Berkeley Defense Group

Members of the Legislature: 0
Highest Office Won: None
Founded: 1968 in Berkeley, CA.

Information about the Berkeley Defense Group is quite limited. However, it appears that the BDG was created in 1968 as pressure began to build between Governor Reagan and the residents of Berkeley over the creation of People's Park, which was purchased by the state for the expansion of the UC Berkeley campus. The tension between Reagan and Berkeley increased until May 1969, when Reagan deployed the California National Guard. Following several days of conflict, the National Guard withdrew and tensions lessened. The only BDG candidate was Kent M. Soeters, who received 17 votes in his run for President in 1968.