Re-formation

In January 2006, students opposed to the Iraq invasion hoped to revive the 1960s Students for a Democratic Society took shape. Two high school students, Jessica Rapchik and Pat Korte, decided to reach out to former members of the "Sixties" SDS, to re-establish a student movement in the United States. ^{[4] [8] [9]} Korte did this by contacting Alan Haber. ^[10] They called for a new generation of SDS, to build a radical multi-issue organization grounded in the principle of participatory democracy. Several chapters at various colleges and high schools were subsequently formed. On Martin Luther King Jr. Day of 2006, these chapters banded together to issue a press release that stated their intentions to recreate the national SDS organization. ^[11]

In the press release, new SDS called for the organization's first national convention since 1969 to be held in the summer of 2006 and to have it preceded by a series of regional conferences occurring during the Memorial Day weekend. These regional conferences would also be the first of their kind since 1969. ^[11] On April 23, 2006, SDS held a northeast regional conference at Brown University.^{[ citation needed ]} New SDS held its first national convention from August 4 to August 7, 2006 at the University of Chicago. ^[2]

The Freedom Road Socialist Organization helped create new SDS, which has significant FRSO leadership ^{[12] [13]} and FRSO collaboration. ^{[14] [15]}

2000s

In March 2006, Pace University SDS protested against a speech by Bill Clinton at the University's New York City campus, prompting the university to hand over two students, Lauren Giaccone and Brian Kelly, to the United States Secret Service. After Pace threatened to expel the protesters, Pace SDS began a campaign that helped pressure the President of Pace to resign. ^[16]

In March, April, and May 2006, SDS chapters across the country participated in a series of actions supporting Immigrant Rights. SDS chapters, such as at Brandeis, Connecticut College, and Harvard coordinated with large coalitions of students to strike and walk out of their classes on May Day.^{[ citation needed ]}

On March 17 2007, SDS groups from across the country met and participated in the March on the Pentagon, in which parts of SDS contingent along with allies occupied a bridge near The Pentagon. Five demonstrators were arrested.^{[ citation needed ]}

On March 20 2007, 83 SDS chapters from around the country held coordinated actions against the Iraq war. ^[17] One such action in the Bay Area shut down the entrance to Chevron's World Headquarters. ^[18]

From June 27 to July 1 2007, SDS fielded a large contingent at the first US Social Forum in Atlanta. SDS members gave workshops, demonstrated, and formed bonds with members from across the country.^{[ citation needed ]}

From July 27–30 2007, the second SDS National Convention took place at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. ^[19] Approximately 200 members of SDS attended what was a constitutional convention. ^[20] The primary focus of the convention was to democratically create a national structure and vision for the organization. ^[19] These goals were achieved, though all decisions made at the convention will be sent back to SDS chapters for a process of ratification which is currently under way. ^[19]

From August 13–16 2007, the first national SDS Action Camps took place in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. ^[21] The camp was hosted by the Lancaster chapter of SDS. It included anti-oppression/collective liberation trainings, and workshops about a variety of things – including media skills, meeting facilitation, and direct action. The camp was held in order to provide students with skills needed to become better organizers, and deepen the sophistication of their vision and strategy. ^[21]

On September 15 2007, SDS chapters from several colleges across the country (including Ohio, Indiana, Washington D.C., Harrisburg, PA and New York) gathered and marched in the ANSWER coalition march from the White House steps, to the Capitol building. The protest was estimated to include up 80,000 people. At least 150 were arrested, and there was at least one incident where police pepper-sprayed protesters. ^[22]

In early November 2007, SDS members were again present at a similar blockade at the Port of Olympia, Washington. The blockade was broken only after 67 arrests, as well as use of pepper spray, rubber bullets, and other crowd-control weapons. A similar confrontation had occurred in May 2006 at the Port of Olympia.^{[ citation needed ]}

From March 17–21 2008, SDS members and chapters joined anti-war demonstrations on the 5th anniversary of the invasion of Iraq. ^{[23] [ citation needed ]}

From September 1–4 2008, SDS members and chapters from around the country converged on St. Paul, Minnesota to participate in four days of protest against the 2008 Republican National Convention. ^{[24] [25] [26]}

On September 22 2008, Providence SDS members took over a board meeting of the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority RIPTA to protest proposed route cuts. SDS argued that the RIPTA board is detached from its riders and doesn't represent them. ^[27]

In 2008, the University of North Texas and several other chapters opened.^{[ citation needed ]}

In 2008, the University of Houston SDS chapter was created and joined the Texas Grassroots Leadership actions against immigration detention. ^[28] SDS joined protests centered on detention centers in Texas, particularly the T. Don Hutto family detention center that incarcerated immigrant mothers with children in Taylor, Texas, and the Houston Processing Center. ^{[29] [ citation needed ]} In late 2009, the T. Don Hutto detention center changed its policies and stopped incarcerating. SDS at the University of Houston in Houston, Texas has continued the protests of these detention centers and plans for more in 2010.^{[ citation needed ]} New efforts in Texas SDS chapters are being made to support the DREAM Act, as well as 2010's May Day.^{[ citation needed ]}

2010s

In March 2010, University of Houston SDS joined the March 4 National Day of Action to Defend Education, ^[30] along with SDS chapters nationwide. ^{[31] [32]}

In March 2010, University of Wisconsin Milwaukee SDS members staged a protest outside the Chancellor's building. The event, designed to protest rising tuition costs, was met with a police presence. Police began using pepper spray, and arrested sixteen members of the protest, including both SDS members and allied organizations on campus through the Education Rights Campaign. ^[33]

2020s

In 2024, SDS chapters across the country began or participated in encampments as part of the 2024 pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses. ^[5] Notable encampments included those at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities Campus, ^[34] Auraria Campus in Denver, ^[5] the University of Washington Seattle campus, ^[35] Tulane University, ^[36] Florida State University, ^[37] University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, ^[38] Willamette University, ^[39] and the University of South Florida. ^[40] The University of Minnesota Twin Cities chapter occupied a campus library. ^[41]

In July and August 2024, SDS participated in marches on the 2024 Republican National Convention and the 2024 Democratic National Convention. ^[5]

In 2025, SDS chapters and members joined the protests against Trump's mass deportation. ^[42] In April 2025, SDS chapters joined protests against the Trump administration's international student visa revocations and deportations. ^{[43] [44]}