ContentsScope and Contents of the Collection
CIA protests at UMass Amherst 1986-1987 CIA: Trial of Abbie Hoffman and Amy Carter 1986-1987 Other protests at UMass Amherst 1986-1987 |
Activism of the 1980s CollectionFinding AidFinding aid prepared by Dex Haven.2008
Administrative InformationAcquired Aug. 12, 1999. Related MaterialFor related collections, see: Processed by Dexter Haven, 2008. Preferred CitationCite as: Activism of the 1980s Photograph Collection (PH 012). Special Collections and University Archives, W.E.B. Du Bois Library, University of Massachusetts Amherst. The collection is open for research. Return to the Table of Contents Historical NoteBan the CIADuring the academic year 1986-1987, three students from the University of Massachusetts Amherst conducted a year-long photographic documentation of political demonstrations and protests. Charles F. Carroll, Byrne Guarnotta, and Libby Hubbard captured images of marches ranging from a Take Back the Night march to rallies for gay rights and protests against racism, American support for the apartheid regime in South Africa, and nuclear weapons. The most volatile point of protest during that year, however, centered on US policy in Central America, and particularly the CIA support of death squads and Contra rebels in Nicaragua. The arrival of a CIA recruiter on campus in November proved to be a flash point, drawing in other activists from throughout the region and, as tensions rose, mobilizing students on both the left and right. On November 13, the Radical Student Union (RSU) organized a protest at the University Career Center where the CIA had planned to hold a "pre-interview information session." Although the RSU succeeded in forcing the recruiters to cancel the session, they learned the next morning that the interviews had actually been shifted to an undisclosed location elsewhere on campus. In response, a number of protesters marched on the office of Chancellor Joseph Duffey in the Whitmore Administration Building to complain of the University's complicity in dealing with the CIA. Finding the main entrance to Whitmore locked down, they tried several other entrances, eventually gaining admittance to the Affirmative Action office through an unlocked side door. Their efforts to reach the Chancellor were unavailing, and when University police were called in, eleven were placed under arrest for trespass. The occupation of Whitmore, however, was only the beginning of troubles. Five days later, a group of students presented a set of demands to the administration, asking (among other things) that the University bar CIA recruiters from campus. As tensions mounted, long-time activist Abbie Hoffman phoned members of the RSU, offering to come to campus to hold a workshop and take part in the demonstrations. Amy Carter, daughter of President Jimmy Carter and then a sophomore at Brown University, also came. When the protesters received what they regarded as a tepid and inadequate response to their demands, a crowd of approximately 700 protesters gathered, including Hoffman and Carter, and rallied in front of the Student Union Building before marching on Whitmore. Confronted by a police barricade, approximately 150 members of the crowd broke off and entered adjacent Munson Hall, occupying it for several hours. By the evening, state police in riot gear were called in, and wielding batons and dogs, they began removing the protesters one by one. As the crowd outside chanted "The whole world is watching," 51 were taken under arrest, thirteen of whom -- including Hoffman (who was inside Munson) and Carter (who was outside) -- were singled out and charged with trespassing and disorderly conduct. Throughout, smaller groups right wing counter-protesters squared off against the much larger anti-CIA crowd, complaining that denying access to the recruiters was unpatriotic and an infringement on their rights. In April 1987, the defendants were tried in the Hampshire County Court House in Northampton. The defense team, led by Leonard Weinglass, raised a "necessity defense" based on provisions in Commonwealth law that exonerate those charged with crimes if they reasonably believed that their actions would prevent the "clear and immediate threat" of greater harm. Judge Richard F. Connon allowed the defense and admitted the testimony of a number of prominent left-wing political figures who provided testimony on the CIA's support for death squads, assassinations, and other illegal activities. The defense succeeded. Although it is unclear whether necessity held greater sway among jurors than the belief that disorderly conduct did not apply, the jury's exoneration of the defendants was widely understood as a rebuke to the CIA and to University policy. Return to the Table of Contents Scope and Contents of the CollectionThe Activism in the 1980s Collection contains 64 mounted photographs depicting marches, demonstrations, and protests in Amherst and Northampton, Mass. Taken by Charles F. Carroll, Byrne Guarnotta, and Libby Hubbard, all UMass Amherst students, the photographs are a vivid record of campus and community activism in the mid-1980s, and especially the mobilization against the CIA and American intervention in Central America and the arrest and trial of Amy Carter and Abbie Hoffman. Although the protests against the CIA and American policy in Central America predominate, the collection also includes images of events ranging from a Take Back the Night march to rallies for gay rights and protests against racism, American support for the apartheid regime in South Africa, and nuclear weapons. Seven photographs depict right wing counter-demonstrators protesting at the trial of Carter and Hoffman. Return to the Table of Contents Search TermsReturn to the Table of Contents CIA protests at UMass Amherst 1986-19871Crowd of protesters at University Career Center, with anti-CIA placard 1986 November2Graffiti on wall outside University Gallery reading "CIA out of UMass" 1986 November3Interior shot of student occupation of Munson Hall 1986 November4Piles of student newspaper The Minutemen, with headline "Does Freedom Reign? CIA. . . where your opinions are as diverse as your interests" 1986 November5Rally on lawn with banners reading "CIA out of UMass" and "Students united will never be defeated" 1986 November6Student being carried off, covered with fake blood 1986 November?7Student march toward Whitmore Hall. Passing by Herter Hall 1986 November8Student occupation of Munson Hall, with banner reading "Covert Inhuman Atrocities" 1986 November9Students arrested and dragged off by police 1986 November10Students occupying Munson Hall, Climbing in second story window 1986 November11Throng of protesters on UMass campus, one waving a large American flag 1986 November12"Students for a Socially Responsible University -- Radical Student Union. Amy Carter, CIA on Trial" [Police in riot gear and dogs staging by UMass buses] 1986 NovemberPolice in riot gear and dogs staging by UMass buses 13Police in riot gear and dogs staging by UMass buses 1986 November14Altered sign in unidentified building reading "CIA no" and "Justice and freedom" with shaving cream graffiti of anarchist A and "No way" 1986 November15Police and onlookers 1986 November?16Unidentified protesters in office, one wearing t-shirt "Nicaragua libre" 198617"CIA on campus student protest" [meeting and panel discussion in Campus Center] 198718"Students for a Socially Responsible University (Radical Student Union)" [Chalk outlines of people on sidewalk with words Draper and Bombs] 198719"Students protest CIA" by University Art Gallery 1987Students protest CIA 20"Students protest" [speaker in front of crowd holding bullhorn, wearing t-shirt reading "Put the CIA on trial" 198721"Students take over forum" 198722"Students take over forum" 198723Anti-CIA skit at Student Union Art Gallery 198724Elderly man carrying placard reading "Not a penny to the Contra cutthroats," standing by pond and markers for victims of Contra violence 198725Markers placed on lawn by pond commemorating victims of Contra violence 198726Protesters at Student Union with banner reading "Rafael Eduardo Garcia student assassinated April 14, 1987 in El Salvador. Stop CIA death squad crimes" 198727Protesters in front of Student Union Building with anti-CIA banners 198728Unidentified woman talking with crowd, man probably at student takeover of forum 1987CIA: Trial of Abbie Hoffman and Amy Carter 1986-198729Abbie Hoffman lying on floor, talking with students 1986 November30Amy Carter at the microphone 1986 November31Protester with sign reading "Ban the CIA not protesters" in front of Whitmore Building, UMass 1986 NovemberProtester with sign reading "Ban the CIA not protesters" 32"Abby in court" 1987 AprilView of courtroom, Northampton, with Abby Hoffman standing 33"CIA Trial -- Abby" 1987 AprilAbby Hoffman and crowd in courtroom, Northampton 34"CIA trial" 1987 AprilAmy Carter and students raising fists on steps of Northampton Courthouse and holding banner reading "On to Washington!" probably after trial 35"Jay Allare -- Northampton CIA trial" 1987 April36Group on steps of Northampton courthouse 1987 April37"Amy Carter Victory over CIA" 1987 AprilAmy Carter hugging supporters in court room, Northampton 38Anti-CIA protesters in Northampton with placards reading "CIA sponsors international terrorism;" "Nancy just say no to the CIA," and "Stockwell lies" 1987 April39Amy Carter and Abbie Hoffman at press conference 198740Familiar man 198741Familiar woman 198742Firemen outside Hampshire County Courthouse 1987 AprilOther protests at UMass Amherst 1986-198743"Black students protest" 1986-198744"Gay rights" 1986-1987Banner in window of Machmer Hall(?) reading Lesbian Union 45"Take back the night -- Women's movement" 1986-1987Take back the night march 46"US military recruitment on campus" 1986-198747Night rally with placards reading "Fight racism" and "El Pueblo Unido" 1986-198748Protesters occupying Whitmore Hall 1986-198749Sign taped to door: "Students are now occupying Whitmore over the right to control student activities money" 1986-198750Staged die-in beneath banner reading "Preparation for nuclear war is preparation for suicide" 1986-1987Staged die in 51Unidentified speaker 1986-198752Unidentified student and official(?) seated at conference table 1986-198753Woman greeted at door of Whitmore Hall by police officer and official 1986-198754Protester in helmet and cape holding up "complaint form" before students (skit) 1986-198755Unidentified woman in front of blackboard with tally of votes 1986-1987Right wing counter-demonstrations 1986-198756Handbill posted on podium reading "Stop Communism a protest of the Soviet Union Sponsored by the UMass Republican Club" 1985 October57Banner on bus kiosk, Northampton, reading "Amy & Abbie came to UMass now it's time to kick their ass!" 1987 April58Crowd of right wing protesters carrying anti-Amy Carter and Abbie Hoffman placards, Northampton, American flag, and Ronald Reagan poster 1987 April59Protester standing by effigy of Abbie Hoffman dressed in Moscow University sweatshirt hanging from tree, Northampton Courthouse 1987 April60Banners hanging on building (possibly Beta Kappa Phi frat) reading "If you don't love American then leave!" and "CIA the American way, Beat it liberals" 198761Protester with placed reading "Nuke Happy Valley" 1987Nuke Happy Valley 62"Right students protest" [protesters in front of Student Union carrying signs "Student money is student money," "Student rights," "We give an inch they take our trust fund," and "Randy the Donut, Get the hole out of office" 1987Anti-apartheid and disinvestment protests 1986-198763Sign altered in administrative offices to read Apartheid Office -- Vice Chancellor for South Africa -- Defeat Racism 4 love & peace 1986-198764South African divestment march at UMass 1986-1987Signs read "Embargo South Africa not Nicaragua," "Divest now," and "Ban apartheid" |
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