Free speech is indispensable to our society and is one of UC Berkeley’s most cherished values. It is both part of our legacy as the home of the Free Speech Movement as well as central to our academic mission.
History of the Free Speech Movement
The Free Speech Movement began in 1964 when UC Berkeley students protested the university’s restrictions on political activities on campus. Small sit-ins and demonstrations escalated into a series of large-scale rallies and protests demanding full constitutional rights on campus. This led to the university overturning policies that would restrict the content of speech or advocacy. Today, the Movement stands as a symbol of the importance of protecting and preserving free speech and academic freedom.
“The Free Speech Movement was the first revolt of the 1960s to bring to a college campus the mass civil disobedience tactics pioneered in the civil rights movement. Those tactics, most notably the sit-in, would give students unprecedented leverage to make demands on university administrators, setting the stage for mass student protests against the Vietnam War.”
Robert Cohen, author of Freedom’s Orator
Our Seven Principles of Community
Our seven principles of community for the University of California, Berkeley, are rooted in our mission of teaching, research and public service. They reflect our passion for critical inquiry, debate, discovery and innovation, and our deep commitment to contributing to a better world. Every member of the UC Berkeley community has a role in sustaining a safe, caring, and humane environment in which these values can thrive.
Free speech resources and regulations
Campus policies and regulations
Our campus events policy enables student organizations and other groups to host a variety of events on campus. Our Time, Place, Manner policy specifies rules regarding expressive activities.
Taking back our First Amendment
We are taking back our First Amendment by vigorously upholding our right to free speech but also vehemently condemning its use as a vehicle for hate, bigotry and oppression.
Speech & Belonging Resource Guide
The Speech & Belonging Resource Guide presents research-based evidence and perspectives on a range of free speech issues.
Free speech FAQ
Questions? Our Free Speech FAQ offers answers related to free speech on campus, the First Amendment, the right of student groups and controversial speakers and Berkeley’s commitment to community safety.
“The public expression of many sharply divergent points of view is fundamental both to our democracy and to our mission as a university.”
Carol Christ, Chancellor
Strengthening our community
Student support
Our campus has served as a meeting point for extreme elements from opposing ends of the political spectrum and may also attract and involve those who espouse hateful rhetoric that runs counter to our values. If you need support, the campus has several resources.
Faculty & Staff support
Employee Assistance provides no-cost confidential counseling and referral for UC Berkeley faculty, staff, visiting scholars and postdocs. It is also the employee assistance program for the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
