Today in Labor History September 4, 1949: The Peekskill riots at a Paul Robeson concert in Peekskill, New York. A mob of locals attacked concert-goers with baseball bats and rocks. Police arrived hours later and did little to intervene. Thirteen people were seriously injured, Robeson was lynched in effigy and a cross was burned on the hillside. Robeson was well known for his strong pro-trade union stance, civil rights activism, communist affiliations and anti-colonialism. He also had been increasingly vocal against the Ku Klux Klan and other forces of white supremacy. The concert was a benefit for the Civil Rights Congress. Just prior to the riots, Robeson had spoken at Soviet-sponsored World Peace Conference in Paris, where he said the following:

“We in America do not forget that it was on the backs of white workers from Europe and on the backs of millions of blacks that the wealth of America was built. And we are resolved to share it equally. We reject any hysterical raving that urges us to make war on anyone. Our will to fight for peace is strong.... We shall support peace and friendship among all nations, with Soviet Russia and the People's Republics.”

#workingclass #LaborHistory #peekskill #newyork #Riot #racism #communism #anticommunism #paulrobeson #soviet #ussr #police #colonialism #peace #antiwar #union #civilrights

September 4, 1949 - Paul Robeson, scholar, athlete, musician and leader, defying a racist and red-baiting mob, sang to 15,000 at a Labor Day gathering in Peekskill, New York.

During the event, screaming local mobs blocked the entrance to the concert area and harassed concertgoers. The veterans’ groups paraded along the highway, automobile horns blared and bands played. Attackers screamed: “We’re Hitler’s boys — here to finish his job.”

#PaulRobeson #Peekskill #LaborDay

Today in Labor History September 4, 1949: The Peekskill riots at a Paul Robeson concert in Peekskill, New York. A mob of locals attacked concert-goers with baseball bats and rocks. Police arrived hours later and did little to intervene. Thirteen people were seriously injured, Robeson was lynched in effigy and a cross was burned on the hillside. Robeson was well known for his strong pro-trade union stance, civil rights activism, communist affiliations and anti-colonialism. He also had been increasingly vocal against the Ku Klux Klan and other forces of white supremacy. The concert was a benefit for the Civil Rights Congress. Just prior to the riots, Robeson had spoken at Soviet-sponsored World Peace Conference in Paris, where he said the following:

“We in America do not forget that it was on the backs of white workers from Europe and on the backs of millions of blacks that the wealth of America was built. And we are resolved to share it equally. We reject any hysterical raving that urges us to make war on anyone. Our will to fight for peace is strong.... We shall support peace and friendship among all nations, with Soviet Russia and the People's Republics.”

#WorkingClass #LaborHistory #peekskill #NewYork #Riot #racism #communism #anticommunism #PaulRobeson #soviet #ussr #police #colonialism #peace #antiwar #union #CivilRights

#introduction

"A little bit sandpaper, a little bit silk."

I live in #Peekskill after a decade in NYC, originally from the #Buffalo region.

My background is in #hospitality, #nightlife, and #events.

I have a BFA in #musicaltheater from SUNY Buffalo.

I love #hockey.

I own the clothing and gift shop Bucko! in downtown Peekskill.

I'm also the director of a nonprofit event collective, #ONETWOHEARTU

Two sons, a wife, all amazing.

Attention all NY area residents.
Following a week of plotting, some talented artists will be presenting their work at the @centerformachinearts on July 22, 12-8 and July 23, 12-5 in Peekskill NY. Please join us!

Side note, I'll be putting a lot up on my IG stories this week if your interested @j.cammarata.art

#peekskill #upstatenewyork #upstateart #upstateartweekend2023 #axidraw #printmaking #diyprinting #penplotter