The SLA was active in California from 1987 - 1975, seeking to launch a People's Rebellion against the U.S. government.
"Symbionese" was their term for symbiosis among all different people, living in harmony. Their symbol was a seven-headed cobra (naga) that represented unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative production, purpose, creativity and faith. Their slogan was "Death to the fascist insect that preys upon the life of the people".
Activities:
Assassination of Marcus Foster, November 6, 1973
Kidnapping of Patty Hearst, February 4, 1974
Hibernia Bank robbery, April 15, 1974
Shootout in Los Angeles, May 17, 1974
Guild Savings and Loan Bank Robbery, February 25, 1975
Crocker National Bank Robbery, Murder of Myrna Opsahl, April 21, 1975
Attempted Bombings Mission Station and Taraval Station, August 7, 1975
Bombing Emeryville Police Station, August 13, 1975
Bombing Marin County Courthouse, August 20, 1975
Other attempted bombings August-September 1995
Members:
Founders:
Angela Atwood
Donald DeFreeze aka General Field Marshall Cinque Mtume aka Cinque
Camilla Hall
Emily Harris
William (Bill) Harris aka General Tekko
Nancy Ling Perry
Patricia Soltysik
Recruits:
Michael Bortin
Patricia Hearst aka Tania
James Kilgore
Russell Little
Pat Jean McCarthy
Joe Remiro
Kathleen Soliah aka Sara Jane Olson
Steven Soliah
Bonnie Jean Wilder
Willie Wolfe
Bibliography:
Alexander, Shana. Anyone's Daughter.Viking Press, 1979
Baker, Marilyn and Sally Brompton. Exclusive!: the Inside Story of Patricia Hearst and the SLA. New York, Macmillan, 1974
Bryan, John. This Soldier Still at War. Quartet, 1976
Hearst, Patricia. Every Secret Thing. Doubleday, 1982.
Kinney, Jean Brown. An American Journey: the Short Life of Willy Wolfe. Simon and Schuster, 1979
McLellen, Vin and Paul Avery. The Voices of Guns: the Definitive and Dramatic Story of the 22 Month Career of the Symbionese Liberation Army, One of the Most Bizarre Chapters in the History of the American Left. Putnam, 1977
Pascal, John. The Strange Case of Patty Hearst. New American Library, 1974
Payne, Les, Tim Findley and Carolyn Craven. The Life and Death of the SLA: a True Story of Revolutionary Terror. Ballantine, 1976.
Pearsall, Robert Brainard, editor. The Symbionese Liberation Army: Documents and Communications. Rodopi, 1974
Reeves, Kenneth J. The Trial of Patty Hearst. Great Fidelity Press, 1976
Weed, Steven. My Search for Patty Hearst. Crown Publishers, 1976
West, Don and Jerry Belcher. Patty-Tania. Pyramid Books, 1975
Links:
Court TV
Background
for Kathleen Soliah trial
Myrna
Opsahl Smart Living Association
Soliah in Context
Extensive source materials