Social Movement Publications and Ephemera Collection

Many social movements were occurring during the late 1960’s and early 1970’s in response to events that were happening in America and the Vietnam War. The social movements included strikes and boycotts due to low paying wages, inequality, the widening welfare gap, the Kent State shooting, and the Vietnam War. This collection contains some material from these social movements, including the publication,Now! Welfare Rights. It also includes material from UCLA (University of California Los Angeles) after it was declared in a "state of emergency" in May of 1970.

Prior to the "state of emergency" announcement at UCLA, a shooting occured on May 4, 1970 at Kent State University. The shooting was in response to students protesting movement into Cambodia during the Vietnam War. Four students at Kent State were killed, and several more were injured. This event triggered more protests throughout the United States. On May 5, 1970, UCLA (University of California Los Angeles) students protested and marched through campus destroying building until the city declared “a state of emergency.” Classes on the campus were closed, and events on campus were held in their place.