Hip Glossary – Sproul Plaza

Sproul Plaza: Rallying point on the UC Berkeley campus where students gathered to hear music and speeches during the student uprisings of the 60’s. In May 1969, Gov. Ronald Reagan ordered the gassing (by helicopter!) and disbursement of students at the plaza, wounding 60 people and setting off 17 days of street fighting where 130 were shot and wounded. Police cordoned off the plaza prior to the gassing, trapping all the students, causing panic. “If it’s a blood bath, then let it be now.” – Ronald Reagan.