At a meeting of the TWLF Central Committee on January 25, 1969, the topic was the low number of strike supporters, even among Third World students. Some of us proposed a change in tactics. One proposal was that we disrupt classes to "educate and inform" students about the strike. I proposed that we also begin using the tactic of "civil disobedience" to provoke the police into occupying the campus, a strategy calculated to involve more students in the strike. We chose January 30, 1969, as the day the pickets would lock arms and prevent non-strikers from passing through. I was given the assignment to carry out the plan, Richard Aoki would direct the action on the street.    That morning from my perch on the second floor balcony of the Student Union, I gave the signal to lock arms and close the entrance. Non-strikers made repeated attempts to crash the line and soon both picketers and non-strikers were involved in a melee. Suddenly, dozens of Berkeley Police and Alameda County Sheriffs charged into the crowd clubbing the strikers with their four foot batons. The police arrested two of the picketers. .    The next day hundreds of students joined the picket line in support of the TWLF and to protest the police on campus. And so began one of the longest, and most violent, student strikes in California history. The campus community reacted quickly. One student put his thoiughts in an essay in the Daily Cal.

Daily Cal, February 11, 1969

Third World Front Criticizes Administration and Non-Strikers

By Jerry Popkin   Third World leaders condemned both the administration and non-striking students at yesterday's noon rally on Sproul steps.    The rally, sponsored officially by the Young socialist Aliance was the first gathering held in two weeks of the strike.    James Soliz of the Third World Liberation Front told about 350 students that "not a damned thing" had come out of meetings between the strikers and Vice-Chancellor Earl F; Cheit.    He added that no further meetings would be held until the administration took action against the individuals who beat up a TWLF member laast week.

"They all have a collective guilt in this matter - the Regents, Heyns and Cheit," Soliz said.    Soliz also condemned groups who have been trying to negotiate a selttlement to the strike independent of the TWLF.    Jim Nabors, also of the TWLF, spoke after Soliz. In a violent, almost hysterical speech, Nabors lashed out white students weho have not joined the strike.    "I don't understand you people," Nabors told the crowd. "When the ante goes up, honkie , you have caused it."    He went on to say, "There isn't going to be a United States like you're used to... middle class people in America produce

nothing.   "we don't give a damn if you really dig it or not...TWLF is an army, and if the ante goes up, its going to go up the way armies raise it."    One spectator at the rally was Willis Shotwell, assistant dean of students. Last week, apparently at the request of off-campus police, Shotwell cancelled several scheduled noon rallies.    Shotwell explained noon rally policy this week, saying. "We hope that everything can proceed as normal, but if there are major disruptions, obviously you can't have rallies.

Daily Cal, February 17, 1969

Faculty Union Joins Strike In Protest of TA Arrests

For the first time since the Third World Liberation Front strike started over two weeks ago, faculty members joined the picket line at Sather Gate.    The faculty decision to picket came as a result of the arrests of seven teaching assistants on a peaceful picket line Thursday.    Picketing remained uneventlful, thorouout the day. However. here was one arrest.    Manuel Delgado, Vice-Chairman of the Mexican American Studemt Confederation, and author of the TWLF strike pamphlet, was arrested shortly before noon on the charge of obstructing a public pathway.    Delgado was half-led half-dragged away by Alameda County Sheriffs deputies from the Sather Gate bridge to the basement of Sproul Hall. He was later

taken to  Santa Rita Rehabilitation Center in Pleasanton, where he posted bail the same night.    Some 30 members of American Federation of Teachers Local 1474, the faculty union here, carried signs declaring "picketing is legal." In addition to carrying signs some members wore armbands saying "Faculty." The AFT line formed on the south side of sather Gate before 11 am. Shortly thereafter they were joined by members of the TWLF. The lines kept moving with the pickets marching slowly around in two circles.    The TWLF marched on the north side of sather Gate and the AFT paraded on the south side. The AFT line formed on the south side of Sather Gate before 11 am. Shortly thereafter they were joined by members of the TWLF. The lines

kept moving with the pickets marching slowly around in two circles.    The TWLF marched on the north side of sather Gate and the AFT paraded on the south side. the California Highway Patrol and campus police, then joined the guard along with several Alameda County deputies.    The TWLF group grew to about 200 by 11:30, when they slipped over to the other side of the bridge eluding police. As the police made several marches through the pickets, the strikers continually split into groups and re-formed along rough organizational liones.    Picketing is scheduled to continue today, according to Coan Hallinan, president of AFT Local 1570, the teaching assistants union here.

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