Press release Sept 6, 1949 IWO condemns second attack on Paul Robeson and Jews at Peekskill concert by locals and law enforcement: "Peekskill pogrom"
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- Title (English):
- Press release Sept 6, 1949 IWO condemns second attack on Paul Robeson and Jews at Peekskill concert by locals and law enforcement: "Peekskill pogrom"
- Collection:
- International Workers’ Order (IWO) and Jewish People's Fraternal Order (JPFO)
- Set:
- Black Jewish Relations
Culture Front
IWO and JPFO Affiliated Publications and Publishing
Cold War
Exhibit and Collection Highlights
Paul Robeson
Black Labor, Organizing and Rights - Creator:
- International Workers Order
- Organization:
- International Workers Order
- Date:
- 18147
- Location:
- 80 Fifth Avenue, New York City, New York
- ID Number:
- 5276b48f28_12
- File Name:
- 5276b48f28_12.pdf
- Address (creator):
- 80 Fifth Avenue, New York City, New York
- Work Type:
- press releases
organization files - Subject:
- Paul Robeson
Peekskill
Culture Front- Music, Dance, Film, Drama, Performances,Lectures
historical figures
political ideologies and attitudes
national organization
Black Jewish Relations
African Americans- Civil Rights
Political
Antisemitism
Civil Rights
white chauvinism
national prejudice
racial prejudice
Labor unions
National Groups
race (Concept)
Postwar Order and Social Contract
Cold War- Red Scare
Black people in the labor movement
Black people
Ethnic relations
fundraising
organizing - Description:
- Press release September 6, 1949 from IWO President artist Rockwell Kent who condemns the subsequent attack on performer Paul Robeson and on Jews by locals and law enforcement at Robeson's second Peekskill concert, describing it as a "Peekskill pogrom." The first Peekskill outdoors concert by Paul Robeson on August 27, 1949 was to be held as a benefit for the Civil Rights Congress (CRC). After he arrived the concert was cancelled since his life was threatened and he was lynched in effigy; crosses were burned and anti-Black and antisemitic chants and violence ensued. The press release deals with the aftermath of the successful second concert held on September 4, including attacks on those leaving the concert and threats against the local Jewish community. It calls on Governor Dewey to protect those affected by the violence that accompanied both concerts. IWO members joined union and civil rights activists in "holding the line" to protect Robeson --an IWO member-- as well as concert attendees. The IWO was involved in supporting the CRC, headed by William "Pat" Patterson, spouse of IWO Vice President Louise Thompson Patterson. Kent states: "The anti-Semitic and anti-Negro character of the Peekskill storm troopers is typical of this redbaiting atmosphere and makes an exact counterpart to the Nazi policies of Hitler Germany, The present reports that local Jewish citizens in the Peekskill area are being terrorized and beaten by these so-called "American patriots," is certainly more reminiscent of Nazism than Americanism."
This text uses the term ‘Negro’ to refer to Black people in the context of the concerted efforts made primarily in the 1920s-1940s to fight racial discrimination. While the term ‘Negro’ might be read as pejorative today, the term was then used in a positive regard, including by Black leftists. - Cite As:
- International Workers Order (IWO) Records #5276. Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Cornell University Library.
- Repository:
- Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Martin P. Catherwood Library, Cornell University
- Archival Collection:
- International Workers Order (IWO) Records, 1915-2002 (KCL05276)
- Box:
- 48
- Folder:
- 28
- Format:
- Image
- Rights:
- The copyright status and copyright owners of most of the images in the International Workers Order (IWO) Records Collection (Kheel Center #5276) are unknown. This material was digitized from physical holdings by Cornell University Library in 2016, with funding from an Arts and Sciences Grant to Jonathan Boyarin. Documents include language and representations which comprise the historical record and should not be interpreted to mean that Cornell University or its staff endorse or approve of negative representations or stereotypes presented. Cornell is providing access to the materials as a digital aggregate under an assertion of fair use for non-commercial educational use. The written permission of any copyright and other rights holders is required for distribution, reproduction, or other use that extends beyond what is authorized by fair use and other statutory exemptions. Responsibility for making an independent legal assessment of an item and securing any necessary permissions ultimately rests with persons desiring to use the item. Cornell would like to learn more about items in the collection and to hear from individuals or institutions that have any additional information as to rights holders. Please contact the Kheel Center at kheel_center@cornell.edu