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

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 00018089
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: March 9, 2023
• Document Release Date: February 6, 2020
• Case Number: F-2016-00496
• Publication Date: November 22, 1968

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SITUATION INFORMATION REPORT
I.
According to Guardian, self-styled Independent Radical News-
weekly, besides the recent proliferation of underground and movement
newspapers, another burgeoning segment of the news media has been
the appearance in black communities across the country, of hundreds
of small, locally written and produced newspapers. These communities
are no longer content with what they deem to be inadequate and insen-
sitive treatment from the white press, or compromising sensational
treatment from the old black outlets. With few exceptions, these
papers are run by black men in their twenties and were made possible
by the big increase of low cost/ non-union, offset printing houses.
"These newspapers were conceived to accomplish four
major goals: to legitimate a certain point of view; to
communicate that point of view to all people in the black
community; to foster unity among the various black groups
in the area; to suggest and at times initiate action to
effect political, economic, and other changes.
"The man who puts out a newspaper inherits a power to
define events in his own terms, with an amount of guaranteed
credibility.
"The young black men who operate these papers have
decided that they will be doing that defining - at least
for their own communities - and not the white papers
downtown.
"All of the papers sacrifice so-called professionalism
to sincerity and community relevance.
"The various non-Chicago, Illinois, papers are much more
closely connected with white student activists than the
Chicago ones.
"One of the developments that have occurred in the black
community since the creation of these papers, in Chicago at
least, has been the inqreasing militancy of the Defender, the
Courier, and the Gazette - the traditional black papers.
"In the smaller cities and towns of Illinois, the new
black press is the only black press. Their existence is much
more precarious than their city counterparts, since 4-ley are
more of a threat to the local establishments because of their
immediate impact on the small towns.
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-Uie white establishment press will begin
to notice these papers and put money in with the idea of
having a future source of cheaply-trained black journalists
to fill their rising quotas.
"Whether the money is there or not, these papers are
just beginning their big boom. Similar papers exist in
Albany and Syracuse, N. Y.; Houston,'Texas; and Los Angeles,
California, and will probably pop up everywhere there is a
black community larger than a city block. The downstate
Illinois papers think it would be great to have a newspaper
in every high-rise building in every city. The cost is low
enough, the need for communication is there, and undoubtedly,
there is a black man there willing and able to take on the
minimal amount of work involved."
The Educational Testing Service of Princeton, N. J., has re-
cently concluded a survey of the impact of the "Radical Left," on the
college campus. Since ETS conducted a similar survey in 1965 several
interesting trends and conclusions can be identified. Eight hundred
and sixty(four-year)college campuses were surveyed during the recent
study.
Conclusions:
1. Though the number of radical left organization on U. S. college
campuses (principally the SEG) has doubled since the 1965 study
(26% to 46% of campuses surveyed), membership remains about constant
(2% of total U. S. enrollment of 6.7 million).
2. An additional 8 to 10% of college students are considered sympa-
thetic to the "movement for social change" and can be temporarily
activated, depending on the issue.
3. The most frequently protested issues during the present study were
Vietnam; dormitory rules, civil rights and student participation in
college government, in that order. In 1965 the leading issues (in
order) were: civil rights, campus food and Vietnam.
4. Civil rights activism has declined significantly. White student
activists appear to be leaving the continuing civil rights battle to
Negro activists.
5. American policy in Vietnam, the matter of greatest concern to pro-
testers in the recent study, involved only about 5% of the students on
the eight hundred and sixty campuses surveyed.
Though present radical left dissent is still a minority
phenomenon the impact is regarded large concludes the survey.
,4
Joan BAEZ, folksinging political activist of international
note seems to be mellowing. The image has changed and the long hair
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hftg disappearea as well as the 'bizarre mode of dress. In a recent press
interview she termed the Democratic Convention demonstrations in Chicago
"really filthy." She disavows the Black Panther militant philosophy,
and thinks "the Panthers are getting away with murder." Miss BAEZ
labels student demonstrations on college campuses "downright silly" and
'"irrelevant." "There might be a time and a reason for campus demonstra-
tions but I haven't seen it yet." The only "in" thing believes Miss
BAEZ is resistance to the draft which is the beginning of the end of
armies.
Miss BAEZ's husband David HARRIS former Stanford University
student body president and co-founder of the RESISTANCE, a nation-wide
anti-draft movement continues active. HARRIS is currently appealing a
three-year prison sentence for refusing induction into the army.
Free Campus, described as a non-political, non-partisan
organization, has been formed at the University of California, Santa
Barbara - dedicated to combat political extremists on the campus by
enlisting the support of the "rational, serious majority of students"-
who believe that charges on campus should be brought about through
the established due process.
CALENDAR OF TENTATIVELY -SCHEDULED ACTIVITIES OF POSSIBLE INTEREST
"Asterisked" items are either being reported for the first
time or contain additional or changed information on previously reported
activities.
*Soviet plans for a meeting of Communist Parties in Moscow
next year ran into further delays in Budapest 20 November at a con-
ference of sixty-seven world parties.
Several delegations expected that a Hungarian compromise
proposal to hold another preparatory meeting in Moscow in March to
plan for a Communist conference would win general backing. But
throughout the day more delegates sought the right to speak on the
Hungarian and other proposals and the conference was expected to con-
tinue for at least another day.
The debates during the last three days appear to have produced
three groupings: the Moscow-led group that wishes to fix a firm date
early next year; those who think more time is needed to heal bitterness
caused by the Czechoslovakian invasion; and those who believe a meeting
should be held after 1969�
At a conference of the Black Panther Party attended last
weekend in San Francisco by people, from throughout the U. S., Bobby
SEALE, national chairman, talked of D-day and #1 day, when the BPP
is going to strike all over the country at the same tine.�, Actual
targets were not revealed.
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Pyransion into more cities continues as does the acquisition
of firearms. Activity and statements of BPP leaders and members seems
to be getting increasingly militant and violent. It is rumored that
Eldridge CLEAVER will be spirited out of the country rather than permit
his return to jail on November 27.
On 20 November, California's highest court refused to hear
an appeal by CLEAVER from a lower court decision that revoked his
parole from a state prison. The effect of the action was that the
BPP leader will have to return to state prison Wednesday as a parole
violator. CLEAVER's defense attorney said he would appeal to the
U. S. Supreme Court.
November 151-Dec. 25 *Mobile, Alabama - The Mobile County Civil Rights Movement
(MCCM) and the Neighborhood Organized Workers (maw)
announced plans for a "Black Christmas" and a "gift-
buying boycott" of white merchants until Christmas -
protesting the unfair hiring practices of downtown
merchants.
November 23-27 *Ft. Bragg, North Carolina - The Southern Student
Organizing Committee (SSOC) from the Durham-Chapel Hill
area plans to hold anti-war activities. Plans indicate
some 30-40 students from Duke and the University of
North Carolina will attempt to contact and distribute
literature to military personnel - with the John F.
KENNEDY Special Warfare Center the primary target.
November 24 St. Louis, Missouri - The New Democratic Coalition -
dissidents whose protests splintered the Democratic
Party before the election - plan to meet to prepare for
a national "founding conference" in March 1969 - to
organize to fight for control of the party.
November 25 *Concord, New Hampshire - Approximately 100-500 persons
are expected to demonstrate in protest of welfare pay-
ments and benefits. The sponsor is reported to be
affiliated with the Poor People's Campaign and the New
Hampshire Committee for Peace in Vietnam.
November 25 *New York City - The National Council of American-Soviet
Friendship is sponsoring its annual November celebration,
this one a Rally for Peace and Friendship at Town Hall to
celebrate: 35th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations
USA-USSR; and 51st Anniversary of the Founding of the
Soviet Union. -Soviet and American speakers and enter-
_ tainment.-
November 25-Dec. 2 The National Welfare Rights Organization (No), a
militant "welfare rights" group which claims 30,000
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mpmberg in gpvpcty cities has proclaimed this period as
"national get it week." The highlight will be Thanks-
giving Day, November 28, when welfare recipients will
stage demonstrations to say "No thanks, America" for the
inadequate dole they get.
NWRO announced a December "spend-the-rent" campaign in
which welfare clients would-keep their rent money to
spend on basic needs not covered in their relief checks.
November 27
November 28'
December 1968
*Northridge, California - The Brown Berets, BPP, Black
Student Union, and SD'S have scheduled a "Free Speech"
rally in the area of San Fernando State College.
South Bend, Indiana - The National Student Association
Convention on White Racism is scheduled on this date.
The University of Maryland formed a Campus Coalition
Against Racism (CCAR) in early October. The research
that will emanate from the CCAR will be used to repre-
sent the University of Maryland at the NSA Convention.
*Author Norman MAILER, will appeal his conviction on
charges of unseemly and disorderly conduct during the
October 1967 peace march on the Pentagon. Sentenced
to five days in jail by a U. S. Commissioner, the appeal
will be to the 4th U. S. Court of Appeals.
November 29-Dec. 1 A Hemispheric Conference to End the War in Vietnam will
apparently meet in Montreal to develop coordination
against U. S. intervention in Vietnam and the Americas.
November 29-Dec. 1 , Chicago, Illinois - The Young Socialist Alliance (youth
section of the Socialist Workers Party) has called for a
national convention of Revolutionary Socialists over the
Thanksgiving weekend.
December 1-5
Princeton, New Jersey - It can be anticipated that the
U. S. A. will be soundly chastised as well as praised
when more than eighty leading intellectuals from throu0-
out the world will gather at the Institute for Advanced
Studies to assess many of the problems that will con-
front the next American President.
Plans for the five-day seminar on "The U. S. - Its prob-
lems, Impact and Image in the World" were to be announced
on 28 October'in London and in Paris by Shepard STONE,
President of the Infernational Association for Cultural
Freedom. -The Association is a private organization of
scholars, writers, and men of public affairs that is
receiving financial support from the Ford Foundation.
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December 2
December 3
December 5
November 21
*Mark RUDD, 1ppirip/- of thp studAnt rphellion at Columbia
University last spring is scheduled for a pre-induction
physical examination. RUDD, head of the Columbia Chapter
of the SDS and outspoken Vietnam War protester has
appealed his 1-A classification on the grounds that
he is a "revolutionist." Demonstrations in support of
RUDD's draft resistance stance can be anticipated.
Oakland, California - The April 6, 1968, "Shoot-out
Crowd" of the Black Panther Party have had their trial
set for 2 December. Eldridge CLEAVER, Minister of Infor-
mation of the BPP is one of the six defendants. All
pleaded innocent to a variety of charges stemming from the
shoot-out with the Oakland Police Department in Oakland.
*Jerry RUBIN, Youth International Party (YI.e1J1E) leader,
accused of soliciting mob action during the Democratic
National Convention last August will be tried in crimin-
al court (Chicago). Sympathy demonstrations during the
trial are probable. On 18 November RUBIN was ordered to
remain in Illinois until his trial.
*New York City - The GUARDIAN, self-styled independent
radical newspaper, holds its 20th anniversary celebration
at the Fillmore East.
GUARDIAN says - "Some of the best known figures on the
radical left will join in celebrating the GUARDIAN's
20th birthday in New York, Thursday, December 5. It
promises to be one of the most politically important
meetings of the year."
Speakers include: H. Rap BROWN, former Chairman of SNCC;
Herbert MARCUSE, Professor at University of California;
and Carl OGLESBY, former President of SEG.
Chairman of the meeting: Bernadine DOHRN, SDS organizational
secretary.
Entertainment: Pete SEEGER.
Acting General Manager William ROSE will speak on behalf
of the GUARDIAN. He will discuss the GUARDIAN's role in
the development of an effective radical movement and his
experiences in Cuba and No. Korea, from which he recently
returned.
*San Francisco, California - On the West Coast, GUARDIAN's
20th birthday will be celebrated at the Hall of Flowers,
Golden Gate Park. Speakers include Eldridge CLEAVER, Min-
ister of Information of the BPP, and the GUARDIAN's
William ROSE. They will discuss: "Revolutilpn: the
U. S. and the Third World." ROSE will speak on his recent
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December 7 and 8
December 8
December 9
December 13
December 21
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.d11show film, "The Pueblo and
Task Force - the underground newsrag published in San
Francisco - aimed at servicemen and veterans - carried
a notice in its October 25 edition calling for GI actions
December 7 and 8: "1. Organize - teach-ins, rallies,
marches, discussions, GI dinners, etc. 2. Contact -
Local vets, student anti-war groups for assistance.
3. Write - P. 0. Box 31268, San Francisco, 94131, so
we can inform you of what's happening around the country."
Tacoma, Washington - The GI-Civilian Alliance for Peace
is planning a GI march for December 8, which it hopes will
attract 5,000 demonstrators.
*Although the trial of Sirhan B. SIRHAN, accused of
murdering Robert F. KENNEDY, is scheduled to begin
December 9, it probably will be postponed until after the
first of the year. A hearing is scheduled for the week
of November 24 and it is expected that Defense Attorney
Russell E. PARSONS will ask for a continuance on the
grounds that another attorney coming into the case is
still engaged in another trial and will need time to
study the SIRHAN case.
New York City - The National Emergency Civil Liberties
Committee annual Bill of Rights dinner is scheduled for
the Americana Hotel. The NECLC is the old ECLC rejuven-
ated with a new name. The old ECIC was cited as a
Communist Front in 1956 by the Senate Internal Security
,Subcommittee and in 1959 by HCUA. Featured speakers
will be: Dr. Benjamin SPOCK and Dick GREGORY.
Corliss LAMONT is chairman of NECIC.
*Washington, D. C. - The HCUA subcommittee after holding
three days of open hearings into the conduct and con-
nection of some groups and individuals in the DNC disor-
ders is in recess until 21 December. Five of the seven
witnesses .subpoenaed have not bee heard and are expected
to.return. They are David DELLINGER, Rennie DAVIS,
Tom HAYDEN, Jerry RUBIN, and Abbie HOFFMAN. Robert
GREENBLATT of the NMC and Dr. David YOUNG of the Medical
Committee for :Human Rights who testified that week were
released from their subpoenas but could be summoned back.
Abbie HOFFMAN was convicted in D. C., November 20, of
defiling the American Flag by wearing a shirt that
looked like one during a Capitol Hill demonstration on
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January 1969
January 3, 1969
3 October. Re was sentenced to Day a fine of $100 or
serve thirty days in jail. Execution of the sentence was
deferred pending an appeal.
Guerrilla, an underground publication, recently proposed
that in January 1969, independent revolutionaries hold a
"Congress for Cultural Revolution."
"The Congress should be organized to include the indepen-
dent revolutionary media, various representatives of the
underground communities, and other independent revolution-
ary organizations and individuals who are interested in
total cultural revolution whether they be activists,
anarchists, poets and artists, or socialists.
(1) The red and black should attempt to formulate a
broad program of cultural revolution which includes an
analysis of the tasks facing cultural revolutionaries
from the point of view of the ecology, morphology and
cybernetics as well as from the more traditional
revolutionary informations.
(2) Polarize the underground. The CIA and other intelli-
gence agencies have begun to consciously infiltrate the
cultural revolution via grants, fake poetry projects,
magazines and the usual fronts. Guerrilla believes it is
necessary to name and define the counter-cultural revolu-
tion so that a conscious federation of cultural revolution
may be built.
(3) The Congress should attempt to formulate its own
4-year plan of cultural revolution. Social revolution
as a weapon of cultural revolution.
Those interested in helping to organize a national
CONGRESS FOR CULTURAL REVOLUTION may write GUERRILLA."
Washington, D. C. - Prior to Election Day, the NMC had
announced its intention to produce follow-up protests.
One is scheduled for 3 January if the Electoral College
fails to give a majority to any candidate and the choice
of President is placed in the hands of the House of
Representatives, or for Inauguration Day, 20 January if
the "peace movement believes the new President will
refuse to change policies regarding U. S. involvement in
Vietnam. It would seem that the January 3 protest will
be cancelled as NIXON appears assured of an electoral
majority.%
January 3, 1969 Included in the new program allegedly adopte, by the
NMCEWVN (Chairman David DELLINGER) at a September 14
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nmi+("r e4f f!_ins in D. C- - 'Rally sup-
porters to pressure the new House of Representatives on
3 January and the new President at his inauguration
20 January 1969.
January 18
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - The Black Liberation Alli-
ance, formed October 18-20 at Columbus, Ohio, by 50
dissatisfied members of C0R2 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.
January 18, 19 &20 *Washington, D. C. - This period, Saturday through Monday,
appears earmarked for considerable activity by various
dissident groups who intend to use the Inaugural
ceremonial functions as a means to publicize their organi-
zations and causes. As during the Democratic National
Convention, the National Mobilization Committee to End
the War in Vietnam, the SL, and the YIPPIES will
apparently.be in the forefront organizing and partici-
pating in demonstrations. They will again be aided and
abetted by numerous peace, new-left, student, and
hippie groups. The extent of black militant groups
participation is not yet predictable but can be expected
to be at a higher level than was the case in Chicago.
January 20
January 20
Organizational and planning activities have been loose and
conflicting statements have been surfacing. The items
listed below reflect some of the information reported to
date.
The Youth International Party (YIPPIES) announced it
_will hold a "festival of life" at Washington, D. C.,
during the Inauguration of the President. Yippies con-
tributed much of the disruptive activity at the Democratic
National Convention with their "Festival of Life" there.
Washington, D. C. - The Administrative Committee of-the
National Mobilization Committee to End the War in Vietnam
(NMC) met on October 12 and 13 at the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Approximately forty people attended; including David
DELLINGER and Renniq, DAVIS, NMC leaders; Sidney PECK, a
former member of the Communist Party;and Arnold JOHNSON,
a member-of the CPUSA national Committee. The Committee
decided that there was need for tight security against
FBI investigations of anti-riot law violativis. A working
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committee was formed to make plans for a demonstration
wiuu D. C. auring the Presidential Inauguration.
January 19 and 20 *Washington, D. C. - On 17 November, the National Mobili-
zation Committee to End the War in Vietnam (NMC) met in
D. C. to consider demonstrations during the Presidential
Inaugural. The seventy delegates included members of
Youth Against War and Fascism (a communist splinter group);
SEG; and the Young Socialist Alliance (youth section of
the Trotskyite Socialist Workers Party). Voting Against
disrupting the official inaugural ceremonies, they did
decide to demonstrate on both the 19th and the 20th.
Committees and plans were to be formed later.
JannAry 20 '
January 19
January 19
January 20
j.
Rennie DAVIS, INC leader, recently announced to anti-war
protestors that there would be a "massive convergence"
of protestors in Washington on Inauguration Day.
*Washington, D. C. - To avoid a physical confrontation
with police, peace groups will hold a counter-inaugura-
tion rally the day before NIXON is inaugurated, according
to an anti-war spokesman. The rally will be to voice
alarm against a continuance by the new administration of
President Johnson's foreign policy with regard to Vietnam.
*Washington, D. C. - The Washington Mobilization Committee
to End the War in Vietnam has indicated plans are in the
making for a "march on Washington" on the 19th instead
of the 20th because it is hoped more will participate on
Sunday. Upwards of 150,000 are allegedly expected in-
cluding a "lot of black people." Committees are being
set up all over the country to get people to join the
-demonstration and to raise mcney.
*Washington, D. C. - Asserting its independence from the
national governing board, the George Washington University
chapter of SEG has decided to plan its own activities for
Inaugural Day demonstrations. The chapter membership
concluded at a meeting November 14 that a police. con-
frontation will be inevitable because there will be no
way of controlling the action of the expected 50,000
demonstrators. Discussion centered around whether
President-elect NIXON or the entire electoral system
should be the object of protest. The prevailing feeling
seemed to be that the demonstrations must be backed by
specific ideological -contentions. Membership was split
between groups favoring direct police confrontation and
those opp-osing it. The majority appeared to be of the
latter bent and it was this desire coupled with the
feeling that the national leaders will favors confrontation
which led the George Washington University chapter to
leave itself independpnt of national policy.
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