Movement Against Destruction

(MAD documents, University of Baltimore Archives)


In the late 1960's and early 1970's SCAR was one of many groups formed to stop roadway expansion. SCAR had a Baltimore counterpart in their road fight. A road that connected I-70 to I-95 was planned for west Baltimore. A group called Movement Against Destruction (MAD) was formed to stop this road. MAD and SCAR shared information to create synergy in their collective struggle.

The SCAR collection at the University of Baltimore contains sections of MAD documents that were used to model anti-road arguments. The collection contains a letter from MAD president William Durkin to Governor Marvin Mandel, which articulates the arguments against a road through West Baltimore. Durkin discusses alternative options for transportation exapansion, including the addition of light rail track throughout the city. SCAR used similar arguments to create an effective argument against a citywide problem.