Samuel Proctor Oral History Program

Official press kit now available.

Vietnam War veteran and political activist Scott Camil will speak to community members and students about the release of the new Samuel Proctor Oral History Program Gainesville 8 Collection on March 12 from 12:50 to 1:40 p.m. at UF’s Ustler Hall Atrium.

The Gainesville 8 trial gained national attention when seven local Vietnam War veterans and one supporter with the Vietnam Veterans Against the War were charged with conspiracy to violently disrupt the 1972 Miami Republican National Convention. VVAW argued that they planned a non-violent demonstration to prevent conflicts similar to those seen in the 1968 Democratic National Convention, and were eventually acquitted.

Last fall, SPOHP conducted interviews with participants in the Gainesville 8 trial, including Scott Camil. He and jury members donated personal documents to SPOHP will be made available to students and researchers.

At the event, Camil will present at the documents and discuss his experiences as a member of Gainesville 8, as well as share his thoughts on patriotism, activism, and government spying. A decorated veteran, Scott Camil first gained public recognition as an opponent of the Vietnam War as a witness in the Winter Soldier Investigation and a member of the Vietnam Veterans Against the War.

The materials are searachable and prepared for permanent housing at Library West thanks to an organizational project led by Camil and an undergraduate volunteer at SPOHP, Danielle Ragofsky.

This event is being organized by the Samuel Proctor Oral History Program and co-sponsored by the UF Women’s Studies Department.

For more information about this event, please contact SPOHP Graduate Coordinator Jessica Taylor at jxtayl@email.wmu.edu, visit the Samuel Proctor Oral History Program’s website, http://oral.history.ufl.edu or call the office at (352) 392-7168.

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