In the 1960s, a major shift in social paradigm occurred in the United States. It was the time when people began fighting actively for their rights. The political movements for civil rights, women’s rights, and anti-war protests sprung up and defined the decade. These political movements can be considered not just a political action but a mark of a generational change in social values.
One of the aspects of these changes was the U.C. Berkeley student protests and political events, that occurred throughout the decade. The documentary “Berkeley in the Sixties” provides a general historical overview with the help of insightful interviews with some of the major participants of these historical events (Berkeley in the Sixties). The main issue that led to the students’ self-described political awakening was the issue of freedom of speech on the campus territory. The documentary shows in great detail, how the university staff resisted with great force the desire of the students to speak and discuss the current political and social issues freely on the campus territory.
In this regard, it is important to explore the meaning of the term “civil rights”. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, civil rights are the personal rights guaranteed and protected by the U.S. Constitution and federal laws enacted by Congress (What are civil rights). Therefore, civil rights are the liberties and privileges which are granted by the fact of the person’s connection to a nation, the United States in this case. These rights are enshrined in legal acts, that are passed through a legitimate democratic procedure and ultimately guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution against any infringement on the part of the state or other individuals.
One of the most important civil rights, the right to free speech, was at the center of student protests in Berkeley. It was the first time that white youth from affluent families felt oppressed (Newman 140). Even relatively small limitations that the university administration put on the freedom of speech were acutely felt by the students. This limitation of freedom was so obvious and tangible that ultimately, there was little that could stop different student organizations from reaffirming their right to speak and express themselves freely. The students addressed that issue by creating a broad coalition of university political organizations and staging wide protests, including the disruption of university administration work. In one case, a large crowd of students blocked a police car for 32 hours on campus territory in order to stop the arrest of one of the activists. These actions ultimately proved successful, and the demands of students were met.
It is necessary to consider that this student protest was not conducted in a vacuum. The speakers of the documentary mention that the whole world seemed to undergo revolutionary turmoil, citing the Prague Spring (Berkeley in the Sixties). Moreover, different political advocacy groups were active during that time, including movements for black liberation, desegregation, women’s rights activists, the first ecological protest and the anti-war movement.
In conclusion, the right to free speech is undoubtedly a vital component of a free society. The 1960s protest has been shown to bridge the gap between people of all political persuasions. The need for free expression of ideas was felt not only in the US but all over the world: in France, Mexico, Japan and other countries. It is important not to forget how vital and how fragile the right to free speech is.
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Works Cited
Berkeley in the Sixties. Directed by Mark Kitchell, California Newsreel, 2004. Web.
Newman, Mark. The Civil Rights Movement. Praeger, 2019.
“What are civil rights?” The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Web.