San Francisco

Berkeley 1964: A Communist Helps Save Free Speech

In 1964 students at UC Berkeley fight for the right to pass out political information and raise money on campus. One leader was the daughter of Communist parents, and a Communist herself, Bettina Aptheker. The protest was unplanned and resulted in an iconic speech.

β€œIt was a conservative moment in the sense that it was trying to conserve the First Amendment,” said Aptheker.

Watch the video above to hear more from Aptheker on how children of the 50s helped spark a movement.

TUNE IN: For our latest installment of "Bay Area Revelations: Rebels and Revolutions." The untold stories of the people, places, and events which transformed the Bay Area and shaped the nation. The stories of the women and men who stood at the epicenter of historic cultural and political shifts will be revealed, May 9 at 9 p.m. on NBC Bay Area.

INTERACTIVE MAP: Explore our interactive map of the people, places and events we'll be covering in the documentary.

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