Logo

 

You are here: Home arrow Documents arrow SDS
Students for a Democratic Society

The  UM Students for a Democratic Society was the largest radical student group on campus. Nationally, SDS could trace its history back to the Intercollegiate Socialist Society of the early 20th century.  SDS grew rapidly in the mid 1960's as it led student protests over war and racism.

UM SDS was founded in 1964 by veterans of the civil rights movement and survived in one form or another until 1970. 



1967- SDS Protests Dow Recruiting Print E-mail
Dow Chemical was the manufacturer of napalm which was used to firebomb villages in the Viet Nam War. SDS repeatedly protested the fact that Dow came to campus as part of its career recruitment. The Diamondback covered these protests. Download PDF
 
1962- The Port Huron Statement Print E-mail
The Port Huron Statement was drafted in the summer of 1962 for an SDS conference held in Port Huron Michigan. It served as the primary political document of SDS for several years
Read more...
 
1965- Naming the System Print E-mail
This speech was delivered by  national SDS Chair Paul Potter at an April 1965 anti-war rally in Washington DC.
Read more...
 
1965- March on Washington Print E-mail
SDS issued this leaflet in 1965 calling for a November national demonstration in Washington against the Viet Nam War.  Download PDF
 
1965- Let Us Shape the Future Print E-mail
SDS National Secretary Carl Oglesby delivered this speech to a November 1965 anti-war rally in Washington D.C.
Read more...
 
1966- Save the American Revolution Print E-mail
UM SDS distributed this popular leaflet about reviving our revolutionary traditions and ending support for rightwing dictatorships. It was originally published by the Washington Mobilization to End the War in Viet Nam. Download PDF
 
1966- Toward a Student Syndicalist Movement Print E-mail
This pamphlet by Carl Davidson lays out a theory of student organizing that influenced the way SDS organized on campuses.
Read more...
 
1966- Questions about the Viet Nam War Print E-mail
A UM SDS leaflet that asked Maryland students to question the Viet Nam War. Download PDF 
 
1967- National SDS Constitution Print E-mail
The national SDS Constitution as it was in 1967. 
Read more...
 
1967- SDS Guide to Community Action Print E-mail
SDS members around the nation were involved in a number of community action projects. This guide summarizes some of their experiences. Download PDF
 
1967- March on the Pentagon Print E-mail
National anti-war groups called for a mass march on the Pentagon in the fall of 1967 to protest the Viet Nam War. Download PDF 
 
1967- SDS Supports Draft Refuser Matt Clark Print E-mail
Matt Clark was a Washington area draft refuser who faced induction in November of 1967. UM SDS supported his decision to resist the draft by distributing leaflets on his behalf. Download PDF
 
1967- Stop the Draft Week Print E-mail

December 4-9 of 1967 was designated "Stop the Draft Week" but national anti-war and anti-draft groups. This leaflet called for a demonstration at the US State Department. Download PDF 
 
1967- Resistance Freakout Print E-mail
The Washington Area Resistance (WAR) was an organization of draft resistors. They organized a fundraising party at DC's Ambassador Theater comeplete with bands and a psychedelic lightshow. Download PDF 
 
1967- Napalm: The American Way Print E-mail
University of Maryland SDS  distributed this leaflet protesting the use of napalm in the Viet Nam war. Download PDF
 
1967 SDS Protests Dow Chemical Print E-mail
In the fall of 1967 SDS protested the presence of Dow Chemical Company at the annual Career Convocation. Download the Diamondback article- PDF
 
1967- Truth: The Students' Newspaper Print E-mail
With the help of University of Maryland SDS, students at Springbrook High School in Silver Spring put out an underground newspaper Download PDF 
 
1968- SDS: An Introduction Print E-mail
National SDS issued this pamphlet as an intro to the organization in 1968. Download PDF
 
1968- Winter Spark Issue Print E-mail
UM SDS published a newsletter called Spark. This issue featured an analysis of the Viet Nam War by SDS leader Cathy Wilkerson. Download PDF 
 
1968- SDS Strike Leaflet Print E-mail
The election of 1968 pitted Hubert Humphrey against Richard Nixon and George Wallace. SDS called for a national student strike on election day to protest this dismal choice and UM SDS put out this leaflet.  Download PDF
 
1968- Rally Against Tuition Increase Print E-mail

SDS called for students to unite with campus workers to demand a tution reudction for students and a wage increase for workers. SDS also called for efforts to increase Black enrollment at College Park while upgrading the traditionally Black campuses like Princess Ann. Download PDF 
 
1968-Letter to the Administration Print E-mail
In the fall of 1968, UM SDS allied with the campus workers union, AFSCME Local 1072. SDS sent this letter to the administration, the Board of Regents and the Governor demanding a living wage for campus workers and affordable tuition for working class students. Download PDF
 
1968- Spring Spark Issue Print E-mail
UM SDS published a newsletter called Spark. This issue features an account of the infamous "Kazoo-in" when SDS serenaded the Spring President's Convocation with a rendition of "Maryland My Maryland". Download PDF
 
1968- Fall Spark Issue Print E-mail
SDS published a newsletter on campus called The Spark. This was the issue that greeted new students in September of 1968. Download PDF 
 
1968- UM SDS Reaches out to High Schools Print E-mail
UM SDS worked with high school students, especially in the Rockville area. Students at Richard Montgomery High School invited SDS to speak to an after-school gathering which was covered by the school newspaper. Download PDF