twlfstrike3

On February 21, 1969, 4000 TWLF strikers and supporters led by Alan Fong, Charlie Brown. Ysidro Macias and LaNada Means, marched down Bancroft Ave to the state offices of the University of California where Governor Reagan and the Regents were meeting. The Regents voted for immediate suspension of all students for whom there is "reasonable cause to believe" have violated campus rules. As Reagan enters the building he flips us the finger and later tells a reporter that "students like that Manuel Delgado just don't appreciate what we do for minorities."
Later that day I'm taken to a private meeting with Harry Bridges, renowned labor leader of the International Longshoreman's Union (ILWU), and Abe Tapia, President of the Mexican American Political Association (MAPA). Both offered their support for the TWLF and promised to get other groups to support the strike. Later that week the Richmond Oil Workers Union announced their support for the strike and the G.I. Forum joined MAPA in announcing their support.

On February 17, 1969 Faculty members join the picket lines at Sather Gate to protest the arrest of seven Teaching Assistants. I was arrested for the second time.
It wasn't easy maintaining the viability of the TWLF. Even after three weeks there was a conspicuous absense of AASU leaders on the strike lines.
One day while on the picket line at the Bancroft-Telegraph entrance, Richard Rodriguez told me that he had heard that the AASU leadership had established a "suite" on the top floor of Spens-Black, a block south, with a vantage point giving them full view of the strike activites below. I grabbed Ysidro Macias and said "come with me we have a job to do." We went up to the room and found Charlie Brown and his entourage in very comfortable surroundings, including food trays and drinks. We told them to close down the suite and get on the picket lines or we would tell everybody about their setup. The next day they all appeared on the picket line.

Below left-My first "Hate Mail." Top left-Malaquias Montoya member of the Mexican American Student Confederation designs the official TWLF poster.

Daily Cal February 18, 1969 TWLF Faces Hearing

By Mathis Chazanov

The Third World Liberation Front and 12 of the 52 students arrested during the current strike will face University disciplinary hearings which continue Thursday.
The 12 students are now under interim suspension which means they are denied all students privileges including access to the campus, except use of the campus medical facilities.
The Third World Liberation Front as an organization has been summoned for a Brown and Charles Jackson, of the AASU, Allen Fong, of the Asian-American Political Alliance, and Jim Soliz, of MASC, have been sent letters asking them to represent the TWLF in the hearings.
The TWLF is accused of violating the Berkeley campus regulation prohibiting “interference with entrances to buildings and University functions or activities, disturbances of offices, classes and study facilities, and harm to property.”
In addition, the TWLF faces charges of violating five specific University-wide regulations including:
• “Violation of … the use of University facilities, or the time, place, and manner of public expression.
• “Disorderly conduct or lewd, indecent, or obscene conduct or expression on University-owned or controlled property.”
• “Conduct which adversely affects the student’s suitability as a member of the academic community.”

The TWLF is not now on suspension but its officers have been warned in a letter from Willis A. Shotwell, assistant dean of students, “any additional misconduct by the TWLF or its representatives will result in immediate interim suspension of its registration as an organization, pending final determination of its case.”
Shotwell stated that citing student organizations for misconduct is not at all irregular pointing out “registered student organizations are also responsible for obeying the University regulations on the student conduct.”
The 12 cited students and the four TWLF representatives were given the choice between a hearing before the Faculty Hearing Officer, appointed by the Chancellor, or before the Student Conduct Committee.
The Conduct Committee is a nine-member body made up of five faculty members and four students. Students on the committee are the chairman of the men’s, women’s and ASUC judicial committees, and one graduate student.
All of the students chose to go before the Conduct Committee.
The Student Conduct Committee is only empowered to impose warning, censure, and restitution penalties. However, it can recommend disciplinary probation, suspension, dismissal, or expulsion penalties to the Chancellor.
The Chancellor has in the past followed the committee’s recommendations.