Students for a Democratic Society (1960 organization)

Students for a Democratic Society (or SDS) is a student movement founded in the 1959. SDS is based in Port Huron, Michigan. The organization held its first meeting in 1960 at Ann Arbor, Michigan, where Robert Alan Haber was elected president. The Port Huron Statement, the SDS' manifesto, was adopted at the organization's first convention in 1962, based on an earlier draft by staff member Tom Hayden. It states that the United States political system is failing to do its job and prevent racism, materialism, militarism, poverty, and exploitation, which are rampant in today's world society.

At first the organization focused its efforts at improving inner-city ghettos. Once the Vietnam War came up, the SDS grew increacingly violent. Later, it partnered with the University of California, Berkeley Free Speech Movement. This group was called "counter-cultural" (by both members and critics) and the "New Left". The organization was made up of mostly liberal arts majors. The movement broke up after the Vietnam war ended.

Today, Tom Hayden is still active in politics and writing. He is a former member of the legislature of the state of California and former husband of activist Jane Fonda.

• Port Huron statement from the 1960s project