Susan Stern
Encyclopedia
Susan Ellen Stern (January 31, 1943 – July 31, 1976) was an American political activist.
She was a member of the prominent anti-Vietnam War
groups Students for a Democratic Society
(SDS), Weatherman
and the Seattle Liberation Front
(SLF).
Stern was tried in 1970 on charges of conspiring to damage a federal courthouse as one of the Seattle Seven
. The trial ended in a mistrial due to the defendants' disruptive courtroom behavior. Stern and her co-defendants; Roger Lippman, Joe Kelly
, Jeff Dowd
, Michael Lerner
, Chip Marshall
, and Mike Abeles were summarily convicted of contempt of court
and sentenced to six months in prison, of which Stern served three.
She wrote a memoir entitled With the Weathermen: The Personal Journey of a Revolutionary Woman about her experiences. With the Weathermen was reprinted in September 2007 by Rutgers University Press
with an introduction by Laura Browder as part of the series Subterranean Lives.
Stern died of heart and lung failure on July 31, 1976, at University Hospital in Seattle, at the age of 33.
in New York in the early 1960s. In November 1964 she met Robert "Robby" Stern
, her future husband. They married in July 1965. Stern finished her undergraduate work as a Liberal Arts Major and immediately began her Master's study in Urban Education. She taught the sixth grade in a ghetto school in New York. [needs citation] Five months into her studies, Stern was expelled for preaching "communist and subversive doctrines." In 1966 Susan and Robert Stern drove across country, relocated to Seattle, and enrolled in advanced studies at the University of Washington. Robert Stern entered the University of Washington
School of Law and Susan Stern entered the School of Social Work. By 1968, after nearly three years, the Sterns' marriage began to decline. Throughout the rest of the term she finished her graduate studies in social work. In June 1968, Stern separated from her husband and moved to California.
. Following Stern's introduction to political activism, she became involved in the anti-war movement through peaceful protest. In August 1967 both Sterns went to Chicago to attend the New Politics Convention, which she said:"consisted of endless debates between the black militant caucus which controlled the majority of the votes, and the white liberals who were horrified by the black militants. The important thing about the New Politics Convention for Robby and me was that we came in contact with other white radical organizers, among them, Students for a Democratic Society
(SDS)."
Upon returning to Seattle in the fall of 1967, Stern joined the Seattle chapter of SDS. Throughout the 1967 academic year both Sterns attended meetings.
erupted throughout the meeting. When Weatherman split off from the SDS, Stern joined Weatherman. After the convention Stern went back to Seattle and began to prepare for Days of Rage
which would take place in Chicago, on October 8–11, 1969. Stern worked to recruit individuals to join Weatherman for Days of Rage
riots. Stern joined the Seattle Weatherman collective, where her extensive use of drugs, provocative style of dress and habit of supporting the collective by topless dancing earned her enemies among the group's more solemn female leadership. She was expelled after five months because the leadership distrusted her inability to function anonymously within a group and her unwillingness to give in to the group's regular tyrannizing "criticism–self criticism" sessions.
According to Maurice Isserman's review of Stern's 1975 memoir,
She was a member of the prominent anti-Vietnam War
Opposition to the Vietnam War
The movement against US involvment in the in Vietnam War began in the United States with demonstrations in 1964 and grew in strength in later years. The US became polarized between those who advocated continued involvement in Vietnam, and those who wanted peace. Peace movements consisted largely of...
groups Students for a Democratic Society
Students for a Democratic Society (1960 organization)
Students for a Democratic Society was a student activist movement in the United States that was one of the main iconic representations of the country's New Left. The organization developed and expanded rapidly in the mid-1960s before dissolving at its last convention in 1969...
(SDS), Weatherman
Weatherman (organization)
Weatherman, known colloquially as the Weathermen and later the Weather Underground Organization , was an American radical left organization. It originated in 1969 as a faction of Students for a Democratic Society composed for the most part of the national office leadership of SDS and their...
and the Seattle Liberation Front
Seattle Liberation Front
The Seattle Liberation Front, or SLF, was a radical anti-Vietnam War movement, based in Seattle, Washington, in the United States. The group, founded by then-University of Washington visiting philosophy professor and political activist Michael Lerner, carried out its protest activities from 1970 to...
(SLF).
Stern was tried in 1970 on charges of conspiring to damage a federal courthouse as one of the Seattle Seven
Seattle Liberation Front
The Seattle Liberation Front, or SLF, was a radical anti-Vietnam War movement, based in Seattle, Washington, in the United States. The group, founded by then-University of Washington visiting philosophy professor and political activist Michael Lerner, carried out its protest activities from 1970 to...
. The trial ended in a mistrial due to the defendants' disruptive courtroom behavior. Stern and her co-defendants; Roger Lippman, Joe Kelly
Joe Kelly
Joe Kelly may refer to:*Joe Kelly *Joe Kelly , comic book and animation writer*Joe Kelly , Formula One driver*Joe Kelly , jazz musician...
, Jeff Dowd
Jeff Dowd
Jeff Dowd is an American film producer and political activist best known as a member of the "Seattle Seven," who went to jail following a violent protest against the Vietnam war....
, Michael Lerner
Michael Lerner
Michael Lerner may refer to:*Michael Lerner *Michael Lerner , inventor of the Baby on Board signs*Michael Lerner *Michael Lerner , social activist...
, Chip Marshall
Chip Marshall
Charles "Chip" Marshall III is a political activist, and was a member of the prominent anti-Vietnam War group, the Seattle Liberation Front . He ran for Seattle City Council in 1975, but was unsuccessful. Since then, he has helped to develop Issaquah's Klahanie community.- References :...
, and Mike Abeles were summarily convicted of contempt of court
Contempt of court
Contempt of court is a court order which, in the context of a court trial or hearing, declares a person or organization to have disobeyed or been disrespectful of the court's authority...
and sentenced to six months in prison, of which Stern served three.
She wrote a memoir entitled With the Weathermen: The Personal Journey of a Revolutionary Woman about her experiences. With the Weathermen was reprinted in September 2007 by Rutgers University Press
Rutgers University Press
Rutgers University Press is a nonprofit academic publishing house, operating in Piscataway, New Jersey under the auspices of Rutgers University.-History:...
with an introduction by Laura Browder as part of the series Subterranean Lives.
Stern died of heart and lung failure on July 31, 1976, at University Hospital in Seattle, at the age of 33.
Early years
Susan Stern was born Susan Ellen Tanenbaum, on January 31, 1943, to David and Bernice (Bunny) Tanenbaum in Brooklyn, New York. Stern was the elder of two children, her younger brother is named Roger. Her parents divorced and after a custody dispute, her father was awarded custody of both children. Stern and her brother subsequently moved to New Jersey with their father when she was nine. Stern’s father, a wealthy Jewish businessman, had high expectations of his children, which was difficult for Susan Stern.,College and married life
Upon graduating from high school, Stern entered Syracuse UniversitySyracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
in New York in the early 1960s. In November 1964 she met Robert "Robby" Stern
Robert "Robby" Stern
Robert Fred Stern, a graduate of the University of Washington's Law program was involved as a leader of SDS and other new left activist organizations in the 1960s and early 1970s. He was first married to Susan Stern whom he met at Syracuse University and later married his current wife, Dina...
, her future husband. They married in July 1965. Stern finished her undergraduate work as a Liberal Arts Major and immediately began her Master's study in Urban Education. She taught the sixth grade in a ghetto school in New York. [needs citation] Five months into her studies, Stern was expelled for preaching "communist and subversive doctrines." In 1966 Susan and Robert Stern drove across country, relocated to Seattle, and enrolled in advanced studies at the University of Washington. Robert Stern entered the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
School of Law and Susan Stern entered the School of Social Work. By 1968, after nearly three years, the Sterns' marriage began to decline. Throughout the rest of the term she finished her graduate studies in social work. In June 1968, Stern separated from her husband and moved to California.
Students for a Democratic Society
Stern's political activism began around the time that she and her husband moved to Seattle in 1966 when both began to attend classes at Free UniversityFree University
Free University may refer to any of the following universities:* Université Libre de Bruxelles, located in Brussels, Belgium* Vrije Universiteit Brussel, located in Brussels, Belgium* Free University of Berlin, located in Berlin, Germany...
. Following Stern's introduction to political activism, she became involved in the anti-war movement through peaceful protest. In August 1967 both Sterns went to Chicago to attend the New Politics Convention, which she said:"consisted of endless debates between the black militant caucus which controlled the majority of the votes, and the white liberals who were horrified by the black militants. The important thing about the New Politics Convention for Robby and me was that we came in contact with other white radical organizers, among them, Students for a Democratic Society
Students for a Democratic Society (1960 organization)
Students for a Democratic Society was a student activist movement in the United States that was one of the main iconic representations of the country's New Left. The organization developed and expanded rapidly in the mid-1960s before dissolving at its last convention in 1969...
(SDS)."
Upon returning to Seattle in the fall of 1967, Stern joined the Seattle chapter of SDS. Throughout the 1967 academic year both Sterns attended meetings.
Weatherman
Stern attended the SDS National Convention in Chicago in June 1969, where the organization's members split into various factions. At the convention there was great discussion of the Weatherman paper and arguments amongst the various chapters of SDS and other activists such as the Black Panther PartyBlack Panther Party
The Black Panther Party wasan African-American revolutionary leftist organization. It was active in the United States from 1966 until 1982....
erupted throughout the meeting. When Weatherman split off from the SDS, Stern joined Weatherman. After the convention Stern went back to Seattle and began to prepare for Days of Rage
Days of Rage
The Days of Rage demonstrations were a series of direct actions taken over a course of three days in October 1969 in Chicago organized by the Weatherman faction of the Students for a Democratic Society...
which would take place in Chicago, on October 8–11, 1969. Stern worked to recruit individuals to join Weatherman for Days of Rage
Days of Rage
The Days of Rage demonstrations were a series of direct actions taken over a course of three days in October 1969 in Chicago organized by the Weatherman faction of the Students for a Democratic Society...
riots. Stern joined the Seattle Weatherman collective, where her extensive use of drugs, provocative style of dress and habit of supporting the collective by topless dancing earned her enemies among the group's more solemn female leadership. She was expelled after five months because the leadership distrusted her inability to function anonymously within a group and her unwillingness to give in to the group's regular tyrannizing "criticism–self criticism" sessions.
According to Maurice Isserman's review of Stern's 1975 memoir,
Further reading
- Barber, David. A Hard Rain Fell: SDS and Why it Failed. University Press of Mississippi, 2008. (See pgs. 172-212 re: Stern)
- Eager, Paige Whaley. From Freedom Fighters to Terrorists. England: Ashgate Publishing Ltd., 2008 (See pgs. 51-53 re: Stern).