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==Robert Roth ([[1950]]-)==
==Robert Roth ([[1950]]-)==
Robert Roth was an active member in the anti-war, anti-racism and anti-imperialism movements of the 1960’s and 70’s and key member of the [[Students for a Democratic Society (1960 organization)|Students for a Democratic Society]] (SDS) political movement at the Columbia University Chapter in New York where he eventually presided. Later, as a member of the [[Weatherman (organization)|Weatherman/Weather Underground Organization]] he used militant tactics to oppose the Vietnam War and racism. After the Vietnam war ended, Roth surfaced from his underground status and has been involved in a variety of social causes to this day. He is the loving father of Ona Kalima Mirkinson, Gemma Diana Mirkinson, Max Forman-Mullin and Jack Jose Mirkinson. He is indebted to his beloved partner Judith Mirkinson for making an honest feminist out of him.
Robert Roth was an active member in the anti-war, anti-racism and anti-imperialism movements of the 1960’s and 70’s and key member of the [[Students for a Democratic Society (1960 organization)|Students for a Democratic Society]] (SDS) political movement at the Columbia University Chapter in New York where he eventually presided. Later, as a member of the [[Weatherman (organization)|Weatherman/Weather Underground Organization]] he used militant tactics to oppose the Vietnam War and racism. After the Vietnam war ended, Roth surfaced from his underground status and has been involved in a variety of social causes to this day. He is the father of four children, all of whom look to him for moral, ethical and spiritual guidance.


==Early Years==
==Early Years==

Revision as of 03:53, 29 November 2008

Robert Roth
Born1950
New York, NY USA
OccupationTeacher
Known forActivism
Student activism
Leader, Students for a Democratic Society
Former Member of Weather Underground Organization


Robert Roth (1950-)

Robert Roth was an active member in the anti-war, anti-racism and anti-imperialism movements of the 1960’s and 70’s and key member of the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) political movement at the Columbia University Chapter in New York where he eventually presided. Later, as a member of the Weatherman/Weather Underground Organization he used militant tactics to oppose the Vietnam War and racism. After the Vietnam war ended, Roth surfaced from his underground status and has been involved in a variety of social causes to this day. He is the father of four children, all of whom look to him for moral, ethical and spiritual guidance.

Early Years

Roth is the son of a middle-class family in Queens, New York where he grew up in a progressive Jewish household. [1] In 1966 at the age of 16 he graduated from high school. That same year he was accepted to, and entered Columbia University in New York City. [2] In 1969 Roth withdrew from Columbia to focus his full attention to SDS, but later returned to complete his graduation requirements.[3] [4]

Students for a Democratic Society

Roth was recruited to join SDS at Columbia University by Mark Rudd and John Jacobs during his freshmen year at Columbia University. [5] In 1969 he was elected leader of SDS when he decided he would not finish school at Columbia and would instead focus on fighting the revolution. [6] That same year he dropped out of school to avoid disciplinary charges and to commit himself to revolutionary organization. He spent that summer working with an SDS community organizing project in the Inwood section of New York City. [7]

Roth sided with black students that opposed building the Columbia University gym in Harlem [8]in 1968, which was intended to grant African Americans limited access to facilities and was clearly an act of segregation.[9] Roth also opposed the University's contribution to the Department of Defense in the form of research and military recruiting. These oppositions resulted in a series of direct actions, including strikes and building takeovers. He led building occupations at Columbia University.[10] SDS leader Robert Roth was the contact for the Low library occupation where he noted the “great communal feeling” of those occupying the library during the take-over.[11] The 1968 Summer session started with protests led by Roth, then a sophomore, Paul Rockwell and Stuart Gedal. On 116th and Broadway, at the university's gates, Roth led “liberation classes” in which he taught passing students about pressing matters. [12] In September of 1968 Robert Roth held a meeting along with other students Josephine Duke, Stuart Gedal and Mike Golash to demand that the Morningside Gym construction stop. [13] Roth demanded Dr Andrew W. Cordier, Columbia’s acting President, to end racist and militaristic actions at the university. Roth was part of a group who participated in attempting to force administrators of Columbia University to allow SDS members expelled from school to register for the following term. As a member of the SDS steering committee, Roth chastised Dr. Cordiers for refusing to lift the 42 suspensions for the expelled students, as he claimed it signified "an attempt to split our movement." [14] During his time with the steering committee, Roth, along with 200 other SDS members, participated in the capture of Philosophy Hall at Columbia University on April 17th, 1969. [15]On April 17th 1969 and May 1st 1969 Roth participated in taking over and barricading the halls. [16] Roth asserted, “We are showing that University that every time it helps the war in Vietnam we will exact reprisals.” [17]This quotation was in response to news that the university was accepting NASA research grants by allowing military recruitment on campus. A later FBI surveillance file from COINTELPRO confirmed Robert Roth was a participant in the Columbia student strike. He was also identified as a member of SDS and a negotiator for the Low library strikers. [18]

On May 2nd, 1969 they released control of two buildings: Fayerweather and Mathematics Halls. [19] In 1969, Roth led another Columbia strike.[20] He was arrested June 10th, 1969,found guilty, and he served 30 days in prison [21][22]in New York City and fined $100 for disregarding the ban of disruptions on Morningside campus. [23]

Following his release from jail, Roth worked from August – October 1969 on the National Action Staff (NAS) for the SDS national office. [24] In this capacity,he helped plan for the coming National Action, also known as the “Days of Rage.”

On September 15, 1969, Roth, along with seven other men and women, was arrested for refusing to stop passing out anti-war pamphlets to motorists. [25] Roth, then 19 years old, was charged with obstructing traffic and disorderly conduct. He was fined $100. [26]

After his release Roth resumed his work as a member of the NAS on September 17th, 1969. He continued discussing plans for activities in Chicago. “The purpose for this demonstration is to be militant… There will be blood in the streets.” [27] The Chicago demonstration was discussed as an opportunity to bring their politics to the streets in order to topple the system.

Weatherman had emerged from SDS by late 1969. They sent Roth to Chicago where he noticed the heavy police presence. SDS applied for demonstration permits for a demonstration and march on October 11th of 1969 and held a conference at city hall. Roth noted that the deputy mayor would not commit to providing a permit, but assured the people that this demonstration would happen with or without a permit. [28] In the fall of 1969 the ‘red squad,’ a plain-clothes Chicago police squad, formed and focused on Weather activity in Chicago. Multiple accounts say that they forcefully entered a Weatherman hide-out and hung Robert Roth out of the window by his ankles in a raid.[29][30][31]

Weather Underground Organization

The early months of 1970 saw great change for both Weather and Robert Roth. He recalled, “My sense of justice… and the person I wanted to be were inextricably linked to what happened with African Americans.” [32] These sentiments display why Roth joined Weather; he was interested in joining a white movement whose goal was to defeat racism and American imperialism. The news of Fred Hampton’s murder in December of 1969 provided Roth with the feeling of personal responsibility to make a difference. [33] After his time in Chicago, Roth felt Chicago was a war zone which intensified the necessity of Weather's clandestine activity. [34] In response to Greenwich Village townhouse explosion,where Terry Robbins, Diana Oughton, and Ted Gold of Weathermen perished. Roth questioned the limits of proceeding in a revolution when it endangers peoples’ lives. [35] The culmination of these factors influenced Roth to join the Weather Underground Organization. In his years with Weather, he participated in militant activities aimed against US imperialism and racism. For example, the Washington Star on 1/9/1972 reported that Roth was wanted in connection to bombs found in Chicago, New York and San Francisco. The New York Times reported on 1/30/1975 that Roth was indicated as partially responsible for a Weather Underground bombing of the State Department in New York on 1/30/1975 at 1:17 am that same morning. While underground Roth participated in Osowatamie, the WUO’s short lived newsletter beginning in March of 1975. He served as the leader of editorial coverage. [36] Roth surfaced and turned himself in to authorities with Phoebe Hirsch on 3/25/1977. He was released on a $1000 bail on 9/13. He later pled guilty to mob action charges and received a $1000 fine and 2 years probation. [37]

Years After 1977

After surfacing from the WUO, Robert Roth moved to San Francisco and joined the Prairie Fire Organizing Committee. [38] In the 1980’s Roth worked with the Pledge of Resistance, a movement dedicated to ending US intervention in Central America. [39] In 1992 Roth worked with Haiti Action Committee (HAC) in Haiti and opposed a US supported coup against President Jean Bertarand Aristide. [40] In the 2000’s Roth has remained a member of the HAC where he speaks against the United Nations occupation of Haiti. [41] Roth speaks out about French accountability in Haiti situation. Roth also co-authored “Aristides Accomplishments” [42]

In the coming years his fight against the UN occupation of Haiti continued. Roth spoke on Tuesday 9/18/2007 at a HAC rally calling for the accounting of missing Haitian activist Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine as an HAC denouncing the US created coup “Where is Lovineky Pierre-Antoine?” Roth attended and spoke in the rally dedicated to his safe return. [43] This is a link to a video of Robert Roth participating in a rally held in San Francisco at the corner of market and Montgomery in behalf of missing Haitian Lovinsky Pierre Antoine http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/09/23/18449279.php He has also co-authored activist pamphlets: “Hidden From the Headlines”, “The US War Against Haiti” and “We Will Never Forget: The Achievements of Lavalas in Haiti." [44]

Today Robert Roth is a high school Social Studies teacher and community activist. [45]

Notes

  1. ^ Varon 28
  2. ^ Salon.com
  3. ^ Salon.com
  4. ^ Berger 315
  5. ^ Wilkerson 206
  6. ^ Varon 30
  7. ^ Berger 98
  8. ^ Varon 29
  9. ^ Berger 47
  10. ^ Berger 98
  11. ^ New York Times 5/18/1968
  12. ^ New York Times 6/11/1968
  13. ^ New York Times 9/17/1968
  14. ^ New York Times 9/16/1968
  15. ^ Subcommittee Report 1975
  16. ^ Subcommittee Report 1975
  17. ^ New York Times 1/22/1970
  18. ^ FBI 83
  19. ^ New York Times 3/3/1969
  20. ^ Subcommittee Report 1975
  21. ^ Varon 153
  22. ^ Berger 87
  23. ^ Subcommittee Report 1975
  24. ^ FBI 110
  25. ^ Subcommittee Report 1975
  26. ^ New York Times 2/20/1979
  27. ^ Subcommittee Report 1975
  28. ^ New York Times 9/23/1969
  29. ^ Varon 153
  30. ^ Wilkerson
  31. ^ Berger 274
  32. ^ Varon 54
  33. ^ Varon 157
  34. ^ Varon 154
  35. ^ Varon 193
  36. ^ Berger 209
  37. ^ Jacobs 181
  38. ^ Berger 315
  39. ^ Berger 316
  40. ^ Berger 315
  41. ^ San Francisco View 3/8/2005
  42. ^ www.haitisolidarity.net/article/php?id=196
  43. ^ www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/10/un-occupation-of-haiti-continues by Ben Terrall 10/4/2007
  44. ^ Berger 315
  45. ^ Berger 315-316

References

  • Berger, Dan (2007). Outlaws of America: the Weather Underground and the Politics of Solidarity. Oakland, CA: AK Press
  • Jacobs, Ron (1997). The Way the Wind Blew: A history of the weather underground. London; New York: Verso
  • Fox, Sylvan. Columbia Opens Summer Sessions. (1968, June 11) New York Times
  • Fox, Sylvan. Radical Students See Cordier. (1968, September 17) New York Times
  • Fox, Sylvan. Student Rebels Disrupt Columbias Registration. (1968, September 19) New York Times
  • Kihss, Peter. Columbias Student Strike Led By Several Different Groups. (1968, May 18) New York Times
  • Ninety Fourth Congress (1975) The Weather Underground: Report of the Subcommittee to investigate the administration of the internal security oact ond other internal security laws of the committee on the judiciary United States Senate. (Stock No. 052-070-02727-4) Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.
  • Scherf, Judith. SF rally calls for end of occupation. (2005, March 8) San Francisco View Newspaper
  • Six war protesters fined. (1970, February 20) New York Times
  • Terrall, Ben (2007) http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/10/un-occupation-of-haiti-continues
  • Thurgood Marshall Academic High School page. [1]. Retrieved 11/04/2008
  • Varon, Jeremy (2004). Bringing the War Home. Berkley: University of California Press
  • "Weatherman Underground" (PDF). FBI (20 August 1976) Pages 83, 110. Retrieved on October 20th 2008.
  • Wilkerson, Cathy (2007). Flying to Close to the Sun: My life and times as a weatherman/ Cathy Wilkerson. New York: Seven Stories Press

York, Anthony (2000). Wanted: A real criminal. Salon.com. Retrieved 10/21/2008

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