Photos: 50th anniversary of the Free Speech Movement at UC Berkeley

Free Speech Movement veterans Jack Weinberg, right, Anita Medal and Jack Radey share a moment before the keynote address by Robby Cohen for the 50th anniversary of the Free Speech Movement at Stanley Hall at UC Berkeley on Tuesday. Weinberg sparked a spontaneous, 32-hour sit-in by UC Berkeley students when he was arrested on Oct. 1, 1964, for representing the Congress of Racial Equality at a table set up on campus. “It never felt courageous,” Medal said of their protest efforts. “Your passion overrides any sense of caution.” (Dave Getzschman / For The Times)

Sept. 26, 2014 11:08 PM PT

UC Berkeley is marking the 50th anniversary of the Free Speech movement on campus with a series of lectures, classes, concerts and shows. The school that fought with student activists in the 1960s now embraces them.

50th anniversary of the Free Speech Movement at UC Berkeley

Mario Savio, leader of the Free Speech Movement of UC Berkeley, leads several thousand students in an invasion of Sproul Hall administrative building in Berkeley on Dec. 2, 1964. (Peter Whitney / Getty Images)

Robby Cohen delivers the keynote lecture for the 50th anniversary of the Free Speech Movement at Stanley Hall at UC Berkeley on Tuesday. Cohen is the author of “Freedom’s Orator: Mario Savio and the Radical Legacy of the 1960s.” (Dave Getzschman / For The Times)

Lynne Hollander Savio, widow of Free Speech Movement leader Mario Savio, addresses the audience after the keynote address by Robby Cohen for the 50th anniversary of the Free Speech Movement at Stanley Hall at UC Berkeley on Tuesday. On Oct. 1, 1964, Mario Rubio mounted the roof of a police car in defense of free speech on the campus and sparked a spontaneous student sit-in. (Dave Getzschman / For The Times)

The UC Berkeley Chamber, University and Gospel Choruses performed songs of freedom for the 50th anniversary of the Free Speech Movement at Sproul Plaza on UC Berkeley campus Tuesday. Here, they hold hands for a rendition of “We Shall Overcome.” (Dave Getzschman / For The Times)

Heather Adams holds up her hands in protest of Michael Brown’s shooting by a Ferguson, Mo., policeman as she sings “Why Am I Treated so Bad?” during a singalong for the 50th anniversary of the Free Speech Movement at UC Berkeley on Tuesday. The UC Chamber, University and Gospel Choruses, led by Mark Wilson at right, performed songs of freedom on the Mario Savio steps to mark the anniversary. (Dave Getzschman / For The Times)

UC Berkeley librarian Charleen Kubota sings “We Shall Overcome” with others gathered for a freedom song singalong to honor the 50th anniversary of the Free Speech Movement at Sproul Plaza at the university Tuesday. (Dave Getzschman / For The Times)

Spectators gather for a singalong to honor the 50th anniversary of the Free Speech Movement on the UC Berkeley campus Tuesday. (Dave Getzschman / For The Times)

For the 50th anniversary of the Free Speech Movement at UC Berkeley, the UC Chamber, University and Gospel Choruses performed songs of freedom on the Mario Savio steps in Sproul Plaza on Tuesday. (Dave Getzschman / For The Times)