Exhibit: 1980s Anti-Imperialist Student Activism at UMass Amherst

On Display April 3–30, M–F 9am–6pm
Exhibit Opening Thursday, April 3, 12pm
UMass Bromery Center for the Arts Lobby

Curated by students in the fall 2024 graduate class, History 691: Exhibit Design Practicum on Student Activism, this exhibit will explore the rich history of student activism at the University of Massachusetts, with a focus on anti-imperialist organizing during the 1980s. In that decade, the United States funded military regimes and death squads in Nicaragua, Guatemala, and El Salvador to destroy revolutionary movements that threatened capitalism. Between 1960 and 1996, the U.S. and its allies were overwhelmingly responsible for the killing or forced disappearance of over 300,000 civilians. Millions more were wounded, tortured, orphaned, and displaced. 

UMass students joined forces with the broader Central America solidarity movement in Massachusetts and across the country to end U.S. military aid to authoritarian regimes. Students confronted university administrators, demanding that the Central Intelligence Agency and other organizations responsible for crimes against humanity stop recruiting on campus. Students led teach-ins and marches, and occupied buildings. In response, the university arrested dozens of students. With the help of Abbie Hoffman, a famous 1960s activist, Amy Carter, daughter of President Jimmy Carter, historian Howard Zinn, and whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg, UMass students mounted a political necessity defense at their trial. They effectively put the CIA itself on trial—and won.   

This exhibit is presented in conjunction with the 2024-25 Feinberg Family Distinguished Lecture Series. View full details on the exhibit website. 

Departmental (co)sponsorship of various types of events does not constitute an endorsement of the views expressed by the presenters, either at the events in question or in other venues. Rather, sponsorship is an endorsement of the exploration of complex and sometimes difficult topics.