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Emma Goldman: Too Radical for 2003?
In January 2003, the words of Emma Goldman on free speech and war are considered too radical for the University of California, Berkeley -- ironically the birthplace of the 1960s Free Speech Movement.
Related Resources
• Emma Goldman - biography
• Emma Goldman - quotations
• Emma Goldman - photo
• Emma Goldman - more resources
• Emma Goldman - writings
• "Patriotism a Menace to Liberty"
• "Minorities Versus Majorities"
• "Anarchism: What It Really Stands For"
Elsewhere on the Web
• Emma Goldman Papers Project
• New York Times, January 13, 2003

The Emma Goldman Papers Project has, for 23 years, been dedicated to researching the life and work of Emma Goldman. A radical in her time, in 1902 she warned that the right to free speech of those protesting war might be threatened, and in 1915 she warned of "war madness."

The Emma Goldman Papers project prepared a fund-raising appeal letter in late 2002, featuring quotes expressing those historical sentiments -- and the Associate Vice Chancellor of Berkeley struck those quotes, reportedly fearing that they would be construed as representing University policy.

Candace Falk, the project director, sent the censored letter to a smaller mailing list than had been previously proposed, and then included the censored quotations in a thank-you letter to those who responded. The quotes were also posted on the home page of the web site for the project (see below).

The University's chancellor, Robert Berdahl, responded to the controversy on January 14, 2003, by issuing a statement that acknowledged that the issue could have been handled better.

The New York Times featured the controversy on its front page on January 14, and one response was new financial pledges made directly to the project.

Featured quotes form Emma Goldman, highlighted on the Emma Goldman Paper Project site, January, 2003:

  • "We shall soon be obliged to meet in cellars, or in darkened rooms with closed doors, and speak in whispers lest our next door neighbors should hear that freeborn citizens dare not speak in the open." (Emma Goldman, "Free Speech in Chicago," Lucifer the Lightbearer 30 November 1902)
  • "In the face of this approaching disaster, it behooves men and women not yet overcome by war madness to raise their voice of protest, to call the attention of the people to the crime and outrage which are about to be perpetrated on them." (Emma Goldman, "Preparedness, The Road to Universal Slaughter," Mother Earth December 1915)

Here are some links for more information on the controversy and on Emma Goldman:

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