This August, in the summer of their discontent, right-wing commentators and their followers casually flung the epithets "communist" and "fascist" at the president and members of his party. It brought to mind a recent, little-noted anniversary.
On August 27, 1949, a concert was scheduled to be held in a private field outside the town of Peekskill, NY. The concert, to feature Pete Seeger and the legendary American singer, actor and activist Paul Robeson, was organized by Peoples' Artists, who asked author Howard Fast to be chairman of the event.
Reading Fast's account of events, Peekskill, USA, one is struck by how easily the author uses the word "fascist" to refer to reactionary, racist persons in the US. It's tempting to dismiss his wording as more heated, partisan rhetoric. Mr. Fast was, after all, a communist himself. But, after hearing of what transpired in Peekskill, the term fits well the opponents of progress in our country.
When Fast got to the concert site, it was surrounded by hundreds of men, locals who had been reading weeks of "concerned" editorials in local papers about the concert. After Fast entered the site, the men sealed the entrance.
Inside, he found dozens of frightened people. Robeson and the other musicians had not arrived and it appeared they couldn't enter if they did. Fast quickly organized those present to defend the site if trouble arose, as it was clear that local police (and, it turned out later, undercover federal officials) would not defend the concert-goers. Soon, Fast's organizing came to be tested, as the mob launched wave after wave of attacks, attempting to gain access to area, with the clear intent of murder.
Here is a quote from Fast's book describing some of the events of that night:
This was, in a way, the worst attack of that night. For one thing, it was still daylight; later, when night fell, our own sense of organization helped us much more, but this was daylight and they poured down the road and into us, swinging broken fence posts, billies, bottles, and wielding knives. Their leaders had been drinking from pocket flasks and bottles right up to the moment of the attack, and now as they beat and clawed at our lines, they poured out a torrent of obscene words and slogans. They were conscious of Adolf Hitler. He was a god in their ranks and they screamed over and over,
"We're Hitler's boys – Hitler's boys!"
"We'll finish his job!"
"God bless Hitler and f— you n—– bastards and Jew bastards!"
"Lynch Robeson! Give us Robeson! We'll string that big n—– up! Give him to us, you bastards!"
Perhaps he wasn't too far off dropping his own f-bomb, eh?
After the first Peekskill riot, organizers, union leaders and local citizens formed a committee, determined to stand up to the racists and put on their concert. On September 4, in another field just down the road from the first riot, Robeson, Seeger, Woody Guthrie and others performed for more than 25,000, surrounded by a perimeter ring of over twenty-five hundred union workers standing literally shoulder to shoulder, holding out thousands more rioters attempting to stop the show and kill Robeson.
The organizers' pride at their success soon turned again to horror, when the thousands of concert-goers departed the venue. Lining the roads for miles were hundreds, if not thousands, of reactionaries, interspersed with state troopers who looked on as the rightists heaved massive rocks into the cars and busses departing the concert. Scores were hospitalized with broken bones, concussions and severe cuts from broken glass. Again, the air rang with death threats against Jews, blacks and "commies."
A brief summary can't begin to present a clear picture of what happened those nights in Westchester County, nor can a wikipedia entry, although the one on the Peekskill Riots is well-researched. Do go to the link to Fast's (free and complete) book above and read his account when you have time.
And, as you do, consider those who today so casually toss the word "fascist" about. Think of their message and their methods, of what they believe and whose interests they ultimately benefit.
And the next time you see a picture of our cautious, moderately liberal president with a little toothbrush mustache photoshopped on him, allow yourself a heartfelt laugh, leavened with a little bitterness.
Fascism indeed.