Although there are many definitions for social movements, one perspective to consider is that of Sidney Tarrow, who describes them as, “collective challenges by people with common purposes and solidarity in sustained interaction with elites, opponents and authorities” (1994: 3-4).  People in these social movements wish to give themselves and other people the freedom that we as American people have the right to have.  Free speech has governed the American way for the past two centuries.  Extending that ideal was the Berkeley Free Speech Movement; a social movement that helped give students, particularly those in college, their right to free speech.  It gave the oppressed students a political voice through various means of protest.  This movement came to be part of what was known as the student protest movement.  Events of this broader movement helped pave the way towards the free speech achieved by the students of the Berkeley Movement.

Sproul hall is where most of the Berkeley FSM protests took place.

It is the campus administration building.

                                                                                                               Mario Savio was the leader

                                                                                            of the Berkeley FSM

All information on this page is thought to be public domain.  If you find any issues with intellectual property, please alert us and we will work to fix the problem. Email at borland@tcnj.edu.  All information on this cite was researched and compiled by Ariel Kaye at The College of New Jersey on December 6, 2006.