Scott Braley (born March 26, 1947) was a leftist

activist Activism (or Advocacy) consists of efforts to promote, impede, direct or intervene in social, political, economic or environmental reform with the desire to make changes in society toward a perceived greater good. Forms of activism range fro ...

and a regional organizer for the Michigan State University's chapter of the Students for a Democratic Society, better known as SDS. Braley became a member of Weatherman (later known as Weather Underground Organization) in 1969 and remained so until the group disbanded in 1977. Braley was one of the original members of the Revolutionary Youth Movement, a group devoted to anti-racism and Third World struggles which later evolved into

Weatherman Weatherman or Weather man may refer to: Professions or roles * Weatherman, a member of Weather Underground, an American left-wing organization active 1969–1977 * Weather forecaster, a scientist who forecasts the weather * Weather presenter, ...

Revolutionary beginnings

Martin Luther King Jr. was an inspiration for Scott Braley, and the reason for Braley's desire to see an escalation in the struggle for equal rights. "It seemed like a pretty clear choice," Braley was quoted as saying, "To be on the immoral and historically losing side of white supremacy, or to join a vibrant struggle for liberation around the world."Berger 57 It was because of MLK that Braley dropped out of school in 1967 and started organizing SDS chapters in his area full-time.

Flint War Council

Braley attended the December 1969 SDS National Meeting, held in

Flint, Michigan Flint is the largest city and seat of Genesee County, Michigan, United States. Located along the Flint River, northwest of Detroit, it is a principal city within the region known as Mid Michigan. At the 2020 census, Flint had a population of 8 ...

and later called the

Flint War Council The Flint War Council (also known as the SDS National War Council)Rudd, M. (2009). Underground: my life with sds and the weatherman. New York, NY: HarperCollins. pgs. 185-193. was a series of meetings of the Weather Underground Organization (WUO) a ...

.Berger 122 It was during this meeting that members of Weatherman officially decided to move underground. Attendees at the War Council discussed issues such as women's liberation, youth culture, and the

imperialism Imperialism is the state policy, practice, or advocacy of extending power and dominion, especially by direct territorial acquisition or by gaining political and economic control of other areas, often through employing hard power (economic and ...

that existed in the events of the Vietnam War.Berger 123 SDS demonstrated these issues and opinions through satirical Christmas carols and spinoffs of popular songs, such as changing the lyrics to the Supremes' " Stop! In the Name of Love" to "Stop This Imperialist Plunder." Government documents note that the room in which the SDS National War Council was held was rented under Braley's name.

Hampton-Clark murders

Government surveillance and violence against civil rights leaders served to strengthen Scott Braley's political resolve. Fred Hampton was an activist and the leader of the Chicago chapter of the

Black Panthers The Black Panther Party (BPP), originally the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense, was a Marxism-Leninism, Marxist-Leninist and Black Power movement, black power political organization founded by college students Bobby Seale and Huey P. New ...

. Considered by Weather members to be a comrade in the struggle for black rights, Hampton criticized Weatherman actions, especially those used in the Days of Rage, calling the group opportunistic and chauvinistic. Two months after the Days of Rage in 1969, Hampton was found murdered in his apartment, along with fellow Black Panther Mark Clark. When the murder was linked to the FBI, Braley was quoted as saying that the murders proved that "the stakes really were what we thought they were."

Underground

Braley remained underground with the group until the dissolution of WUO in 1977. Originally opposed to the suggestion of surfacing, Braley stated in an interview excerpted in Dan Berger's book ''Outlaws of America'' that the decision was tormenting.

Red Dragon Print Collective

In 1973, the Weather Underground Organization established a printing operation called the Red Dragon Print Collective, a venture which Braley helped run.Berger 185 Operating out of a soundproof apartment, the print collective was a formative part of the Weather Underground Organization for its final three years. The Red Dragon Print Collective was responsible for producing the Weather Underground Organization's book ''Prairie Fire''. All printing, binding, and collating of materials was done by the members themselves. As a precaution, work was done wearing gloves to ensure that no fingerprints would be left.

Later life

Scott Braley lives in Oakland, California where he works as a photographer for social justice and non-profit organizations.Berger 311

Notes

:''See

References Reference is a relationship between objects in which one object designates, or acts as a means by which to connect to or link to, another object. The first object in this relation is said to ''refer to'' the second object. It is called a ''name'' ...

below for publications cited''

References

* *FBI Files: Weather Underground Organization (Weathermen) Retrieved from http://foia.fbi.gov/foiaindex/weather.htm * *''The Weather Underground''. Documentary produced by Carrie Lozano, directed by Bill Siegel and Sam Green. New Video Group, 2003, DVD. *The Weather Underground: report of the Subcommittee to Investigate the Administration of the Internal Security Act and Other Internal Security Laws of the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, Ninety-fourth Congress, first session. January 1975.

External links

FBI files: ''Weather Underground Organization (Weatherman)''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Braley, Scott 1947 births Living people American anti-war activists COINTELPRO targets Members of Students for a Democratic Society People from Midland, Michigan People from Oakland, California Members of the Weather Underground Michigan State University alumni Activists from California