UICC Student Government “Free Speech” Button
Chicago, Illinois — Late 1960s — Diameter: 1½ inches
 
A celluloid student-issue button produced by the Student Government Association of University of Illinois at Chicago Circle (UICC), reflecting the climate of campus activism during the late 1960s. The “Free Speech” slogan situates the piece within the broader context of student protest movements that emerged in response to the Vietnam War and related debates over civil liberties and academic freedom.
 
Buttons of this type served as both personal statements and tools of collective identity, worn by students participating in demonstrations and campus discourse. Material such as this offers a concise visual record of the political engagement that defined the period, particularly within urban public universities.
 
Condition: Excellent.