April Third Movement
Historical Archive
Audio Archives
April 3, 1970
On April 3, 1970, the Academic Council met in the Physics Tank. They were greeted by 140 members of the Off ROTC movement. Subsequently, University officials filed affidavits for civil contempt of court charges against five members of the Off ROTC movement—Mike Sweeney, Janet Weiss, John Shoch, Lenny Siegel, and Art Busse. Santa Clara County Superior Court then ordered “show cause” citations to these individuals on contempt charges based on a previous injunction against disruptive activities. The five individuals were charged with a variety of activities such as attendance at the April 3 Academic Council meeting, milling-in at the offices of the ROTC Commander, and attending ROTC classes. While these activities involved hundreds of people, only five were charged.
The following is an audio recording of the April 3 Academic Council meeting.
c. April 10, 1970
Contempt!
Unsigned, undated flyer decrying the contempt charges lodged against five individuals whose “real ‘offense’ has been to play an active and outspoken role in the Movement,” and people to attend an April 13 noon rally in White Plaza and “show CONTEMPT for ROTC and the War in Southeast Asia.”
April 13, 1970
Stanford Press Release
“University officials have filed affidavits for civil contempt of court charges against five individuals and shortly will bring campus judicial charges against approximately 50 students involved in protests against ROTC during the past two weeks.”