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4 weiss ao “-RAVEL OF UNITED S1_ “ES CITIZENS TO ) PARIS,-FRANCE, SPONSORED LY CLERGY AND LAYMEN CONCERNED ABOUT VIETNAM -AND ANERICAN FRIENDS SERVICE COMMITTEE 9 =. ss SFUDENTS FOR A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY ; fo Students for a Democratic Society; commonly known as SDS,- came into existence at a founding convention held during June, 1962, at Port Huron, Michigan. From én initial posture of "participatory democracy," Marxist~ Leninist ideology of various shadings became predominant during 1968-1969 with debate centering on how best to create a revolutionary youth movement. SDS moved from involvement in the civil rights struggle to an anti-Vietnam war position to advocacy of a militant anti-imperialist line linking up the oppressed peoples of Asia, Africa and Latin America ‘with the black liberation movement in the United States. All major factions within SDS embrace Marxism-Leninism -. and identify internationally with China, Cuba and North Vietnam ‘as countries leading the worldwide struggles against the United States. However, the Soviet Union was regarded as imperialist and with the Communist Party, United States of America, “revisionist” in nature. . SDS operated under a nationazl constitution which called for an annual National Convention (NC) and quarterly National Council meetings wherein programs were initiated and debated. Three national officers were elected annually with a National Interim Committee to run the organization. Regional offices and college chapters elected Ccciogates to the national meetings but each Zunctioned independently on. local matters. Its official pubiication "Fire" (formerly "New Left Notes") Inst appeared in December, 1969. Internal factionalism of serious proportions developed during 1968 - 126° and the following three factions evolved aS a result of 2 epiit at the June, 1969, NC: Weathorman, Worker Svucent élisance (SA), and Rovolutionary Youth Kovement (RY). The efyect of the split on SCS chaptcrs throughout the country was civisive. Sone rlligned with one or the other of the three major fnctions. Others, unable to identify with any faction, disassociated with SDS completely and changed names. ; . The SDS national office in recent years was located at 1608 West Nadison Street, Chicazs, Ilicnois. It was closed in February, 570. ’ The Weatherman and RYM grens no longer consider themselves cssocinted with SDS, onc tio WSA group vofera to itself eg the true sds, - 8 + « + a oo * ween . TT LL Rt te oli = tee — A 1 monte na Oe eee ee ee ner Oe Sted ine SE oe ee fmeme ag em ae see,