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= MRET SEC I$, STULSATS FGR A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY [te 4) 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 an 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 national 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 delegates to the national meetings but each functioned independently on local matters. Its official publication "Fire" (formerly “New Left Notes") last appeared in December, 1969. 1907 =— mat veloped during 1968-1963 and the following three factio evolved as a result of a split at the June, 1969, NC: Weatherman, Worker Student Alliance (WSA), and Revolutionary Youth Movement (RYM). The effect of the split on SDS chapters throughout the country was divisive. Some alligned with one or the other of the three major factions. Others, unable to identify with any faction, disassociated with SDS completely and changed names. Internal factionalism of serious proportions de- ns fit emew f= eee =e eee office in recent Years was 1 , Chicago, Illinois. It was SDS natio at 1608 West "Madison Str in February, 1970. 4 t The Weatherman and RYM groups no longer consider themselves associated with SDS, and the WSA group refers to itself as the true SDS. L ie