On this day, May 13, 1960, 68 people, mostly college students, were arrested in the first day of protest against a visit by the House Un-American Activities Committee.
The investigative committee, denounced by former President Truman as the “most un-American thing in the country today,” set up at the San Francisco City Hall for loyalty hearings.
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Hundreds of students sat down in the hallways after they were barred from the hearings. Police fire-hosed them and dragged them down the marble steps.
The next day, thousands of people arrived. HUAC ended the hearings, calling the demonstrators communist dupes.
Charges were dropped against all but one demonstrator. He was acquitted in a jury trial.
– Scott McCabe
