DOC RELATES TO PROJECT MERRIMAC (MERRIMACK) - SITUATION INFORMATION REPORT

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 00018101
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: March 9, 2023
• Document Release Date: February 6, 2020
• Case Number: F-2016-00496
• Publication Date: January 3, 1969

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SITUATION INFORMATION REPORT
The American Council on Education in a recently con-
ducted study among the nations college freshmen concludes that
student power pressures can be expected to continue into the
1970's. The survey of 300,000 entering freshmen on 435 college
campuses provided the following percentages of "yes" answers
to key questions:
Students should have a major role in specifying the
college curriculum (a paramount goal of current student
activists) - 89.7%
Faculty promotions should be based in part on student
evaluations - 63.2%
College officials should have the right to ban
speakers with extremist views from the campus -
31.7%
Only volunteers should serve in the Armed Forces -
37%
Campus officials are too soft in dealing with student
protests - 54.5%
The study reflects that 6% of freshmen who entered -
college in the present semester are negroes.
Since the completion of this responsible and comprehensive
study, several events point to a stronger stand by college
administrators. The indications are that although the students
will press for more academic freedom and self determination, the
"establishment" will resist with increased vigor. Several barometer
events are: (1) The stand of the governor, regents and admin-
istration at San Francisco State; (2) The criminal indictments
brought against the leaders of the revolt at San Fernando Valley
College; (3) The re-establishing of on campus job interviews
with war producing engineering firms at the City College of New
York; (4) The Yorty report where in the mayor of Los Angeles,
among other things, connects campus riots with hard core old line
communists. This connection will undoubtedly cause the "casual"
OGier to reappraise his campus affiliations.
The most important of the above is the confrontation at San
Francisco State College. The college must show the determination
to stay in business or the public educational structure in Cali-
fornia and elsewhere will suffer serious consequences.
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The Eighth National Convention of the Young Socialist Alliance
concluded in Chicago early in December. The YSA is the youth and
training section of the militant and revolutionary Socialist Workers
Party. The usual themes pervaded the convention with a topically
stronger anti-war flavor than in the past. Members of the Chicago
Black Panther Party were in attendance and proved a disruptive force.
In addition to the usual profane labels for political leaders and
disruption of conventional democratic processes the Panthers chided
the delegates for waging a revolution with talk and not with guns
in the streets.
- Membership figures presented to the gathering point up once
again the. incredible voice by a dissident mini-minority.
NEVMERSHIP STATISTICS AS OF NOVEMBER 27, 108
YSA Members 572
Candidates for Membership
64
YSA Members who are also SWP
187
Colleges with YSA Members
101
High Schools with YSA Members
32
Jr. High Schools with Members
5
SEE 'ers joining YSA in 1968
60
Subscribers to.YSA Magazine
3,300
One graphic example of the great power of a few activist
is the recently concluded meeting of the SL G at Ann Arbor,
Michigan. The National Interim Committee of the sris just
barely suceeded in holding the national leadership of the StS
against a extremely strong challenge by the Youth Socialist
Alliance.
The Ann Arbor meeting issued forth a very shaky SEG leadership
that has been alerted, clearly to the fact that the organization,
and the national leadership of it, is a most enticing target for take
over by the well organized, strong ideological, old line communist
organizations. One large crumb that the SEG leadership was forced
to throw the YSA was, no demonstrations at the inauguration. For
some reason demonstrations on January 20 are not in the YSA or the
SP time table. It is believed that through YSA pressure on SIDS
leadership, urged on by a few black SDS'ers (who believe that demon-
strations in Washington will hurt the D.C. black community most)
the SDS leaders were forced to issue a statement of "no demonstra-
tions in Washington." Their reason, they feel that if they demon-
strate it will show their contempt only for the Nixon administration
and it is their desire to show contempt for all organized government
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leaders. Transparent reasoning perhaps but a reason was needed
so the SL S leadership obliged the press and public (and the YSA,
the SWP and the Black caucus).
Mrs. Madalyn Murray O'Hair the former Baltimorean who won a
United States Supreme court ruling banning prayer from public
schools said biblical readings should be barred on all future
space flights. Mrs. O'Hair has taken her campaign against religion
into space by protesting televised biblical readings by the
Apollo 8 astronauts. She will ask the 28,000 associates in her
society of SEPARATIONISTS to join her protest to the astronauts
readings to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
Eldridge Cleaver the fugitive leader of the Black Panther
Party had been scheduled to appear in court on 23 December, to
have a date set for his trial on charges of attempted murder and
assault with a deadly weapon.
Judge Folger Emerson asked if Cleaver was in the courtroom,
Charles R. Garry, his attorney, answered, "No your honor." Judge
Emerson then ordered Cleaver's $50,000 bail forfeited and issued
a bench warrant for the arrest of Cleaver.
After the court proceedings, a news conference was held in the
courthouse on behalf of five of the six persons who had guaranteed
Cleaver's $50,000 bail.
Paul Jacobs, an author who was spokesman for the group, called
the money "ranson demanded by the state" and said that Cleaver was
a "fugitive from the Political Persecution"of the state.
Mr. Jacobs called on "all who believe in freedom, including
freedom for those with whom they disagree" to share the financial
burden by making contributions toward raising the $50,000.
Joining in the statement were Godfrey Cambridge, the comedian,
Mrs. Cleaver, Dr. Philip Shapiro, and Ed Keating, a lawyer who is
the former publisher of Ramparts magazine on which Cleaver was a
senior editor.
Although Judge Emerson ordered Cleaver's bail forfeited, the
order does not become final until June 20. If Cleaver should re-
appear within this "recovery period" the money would be returned.
Stokeley Carmichael the well-known black extremist and his
wife, Miriam Makeba, departed from John F. Kennedy Airport in New
York City, 28 December 1968 enroute to Stockholm, Sweden. Miriam
Makeba,an entertainer, begins a singing engagement in Stockholm
on 1 January 1969.
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January 1969
Calendar of tentatively scheduled activities
"Asterisked" items are either reported for the first
time or contain additions or changes to previously
reported activities.
A dissident faction of the American Independent Party
has announced that it has taken steps to form a continuing
national organization. A temporary national committee
was formed by 150 representatives from fourteen states
at a two-day convention in El Segundo, California,
recently.
The Committee's main objectives would be "assistance
to all state parties in preserving their ballot qualifications
and retentions of the A.I.P. as a legally constituted
national party." The committee will meet early in 1969
in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to form a regular national committee.
January 2-10 At a meeting in Kalamazoo, Michigan on 15-17 November
the National Interim Committee of the St S proclaimed
2-10 January to be SEG Days of Solidarity with the Cuban
Revolution. sre is planning to send a small official
delegation to Cuba at that time. Additionally, during
Solidarity week, SIB plans other activities including the
presentation of films, educational programs and possibly
demonstrations.
January 2-10 *During the days of solidarity it has recently been an-
nounced that St E has been invited to send five observers
to Havana for the tenth anniversary celebration of the
revolution. The five are to be picked by the National
Interim Committee presently meeting at Ann Arbor, Michigan.
January 3-9
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A new left symposium will be held on the Northwestern
University campus on the above dates. The symposium is
planned to bring together national new left leaders including:
Tom Hayden, SDS founder and theorist
Carl Oglesby, of Ramparts magazine
Mike Herrington, SL S Leader
Dick Gregory, erstwhile Presidential candidate of the
Peace and Freedom Party
Jesse Jackson, of Operation Breadbasket
A large number of New Lefters from many areas are expected
to be in attendance. The CIA recruiter who was scheduled to
be on the Northwester campus is expected to move his activity
to the Chicago Federal building and conduct intervieN by
appointment.
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January 6
January 7
January 9
January 18
January 20
January 21
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D.C.- Oral arguments will be heard by the 1st U.S.
Circuit Court of Appeals on behalf of Anti-draft
conspiracy convicted Dr. Benjamin Spock and the
three other convicted defendants. Written appeal
briefs have been filed.
Los Angeles, California - The trial of Sirhan B.
Sirhan for the murder of Sen. R.F. Kennedy as been
postponed until 7 January. The delay from 9 December
was granted to permit a new member of the defense team,
Attorney Grant B. Cooper, to study the case. The trial
will be held in a steel-plated court room with closed
circuit television for reporters. There will not be
any public television.
Evanston, Illinois - SW at Northwestern University
plans to demonstrate to protest CIA recruiting on the
campus. An SL e leader has stated that he feels the
demonstration will be "obstructive in nature."
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - The Black Liberation
Alliance, formed October 18-20 at Columbus, Ohio, by
50 dissatisfied members of CORE from five states will
hold its first convention. Temporary officers were
elected at Columbus. It was decided that the
organization will strive for basic social, economic,
and political change in the U.S.A. rather than reform.
It will seek racial separation, black nationalism, and
the formation of a separate black nation within the
boundaries of the U.S.
An informant of unestablished reliability has provided
information that it is rumored the Black Panther Party
plans to assassinate Mayor John Readings of Oakland
and Joseph Aliato of San Francisco on inauguration day.
Local and federal officials in the San Francisco Bay
area have been advised.
New Orleans, Louisiana - Clay L. Shaw is to go on trial
in the Orleans Parish Criminal District Court
on charges of conspiring to assassinate President
John F. KENNEDY. This case has been in an "on and off"
status for a long time but does appear to actually be
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going to trial this time. Controversial District
Attorney Jim GARRISON was quoted as saying, "The
moment of truth has arrived in this case. "Even if
I am killed, the Clay Shaw case will go to trial."
SOURCES: Government and news media reports
RELIABILITY: Probably true
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