From 1936 to 1939, large numbers of U-M students mobilized to support the Spanish Republic as it fought a military uprising backed by Hitler and Mussolini. They joined an international movement that sought to make Spain the “tomb of fascism.” In the Michigan Daily, news of the Spanish war unfolded on the front pages, and debates erupted in the op-ed section. The Student Senate passed a resolution urging the U.S. government to lift the embargo on selling arms to Spain. Students formed an aid committee, held rallies, and raised funds to send an ambulance to Spain. Three students volunteered for the Abraham Lincoln Brigade and fought in Spain, one of whom would never return. In this conference students will present their original research on anti-fascist student activism at U-M.

All events are free and open to the public.

Thursday, March 23

4:00pm – Lecture and piano recital by María Isabel Pérez Dobarro: “Music of the Republic and Spanish Civil War” (Michigan League, Koessler Room)
5:20pm – Reception
6:30pm – Screening of film: Invisible Heroes: African Americans in the Spanish Civil War, followed by a discussion with the co-director Alfonso Domingo (Ann Arbor District Library, Multi-purpose Room)

Friday, March 24 (Michigan League, Concourse and Vandenberg Room)

11:00am – Coffee and snacks
11:30am - 12:30pm – Panel I: Catholicism and Anti-Clericalism and the Spanish Civil War
12:30 - 1:30pm – Lunch
1:30 - 3:30pm – Panel II: Michigan Volunteers in the Abraham Lincoln Brigade
3:30pm – Coffee break
4:00 - 5:20pm – Keynote address I by Peter N. Carroll: “Facing Fascism: Americans and the Spanish Civil War"
5:20 - 6:00pm – Reception

Saturday, March 25 (Michigan League, Henderson and Koessler Rooms)

9:30am – Continental breakfast
10:30am - 12:00pm – Panel III: Activism on campus: The American Student Union and the Progressive Club
2:00 - 3:30pm – Round table discussion: Student Activism Past and Present
3:30pm – Coffee break
4:00 - 5:20pm – Keynote address II by Robert Cohen: “Where Have You Gone Arthur Miller? America’s Forgotten Student Movement and the Spanish Civil War”
5:20 - 6:00pm – Reception