By Ronald Abbey
e-mail to: [email protected]
Feb 16, 2000
Much of what has been written of the two confrontations has been done by people who had a biased viewpoint, or perhaps worse, were not even there. While scholars can piece together a patchwork of material to suit their own viewpoint, there is nothing like being on the scene, as I was, and in my case, as an observer, not as a participant..
Before proceeding, however, let me correct one or two mistakes that are now represented as facts. I have headed this article with the words Peekskill, Robeson, and Riot. That is strictly for the benefit of web search engines to make this page easier to locate on the internet.
First: The event was one of a series of recitals that had taken place in previous years, and were held in the Town of Cortlandt and not in the City of Peekskill. Until the August 1949 concert became not a concert but a well publicized gathering of communist sympathizers, there had never been any significant interest, pro or con, by the natives of the City of Peekskill an its environs in the Paul Robeson concerts.
Peekskill, formerly part of the Town of Cortlandt, became a City in September of 1940. The locale of the concerts was not within the Peekskill city limits. No police from the City of Peekskill participated in either of the two confrontations. No statements by any officials of the City of Peekskill were ever made. In short, Peekskill had no part, as a City in either of the riots.
Second: the newspaper, where I worked, was not the Peekskill Evening Star. It was named the Evening Star, published in Peekskill and at the time was one of the major newspapers serving much of Westchester County and certainly the only local newspaper for the entire Town of Cortlandt. In that capacity it correctly featured the news and events of the entire Township, not just Peekskill.
In August of 1949, I was employed by the Evening Star as a compositor. As such, I was involved in the daily activity of getting the newspaperprintged and on the street and into the hands of the public. The newspaper had two regular photographers and I, as a sometimes additional camera lens, had been asked to help cover and photograph the events for the Evening Star. Our pictures and notes were pooled, and at this later time I could not say who took which pictures and captioned them. Many of them are preserved at the Peekskill Field Library.
Some of my notes are from certain issues of the Evening Star.
To begin to comprehend why the demonstrations took place, and why they turned ugly, it is first necessary to understand the mood of the USA in those times. We had just ended a bitter struggle in World War II, the veterans were home and trying to put their lives back together and make up for the lost schooling and family life that they had lost. Communist Russia had been a decidedly uneasy and unstrustworthy ally during that war. The "Cold War" with Russia was already underway. It was in 1949, at the time of the confrontations, Russia exploded it's own nuclear bomb after stealing the secrets from us, with the help of the Rosenbergs.
Joseph Stalin was seen as a ruthless dictator, bent on a ruthless expansion of the Soviet Union. Confrontation was the order of the day.
Communism was a fact of life in America. The Communist Party was legal and very vocal, and membership was increasing. It had a party platform, together with candidates for elected office. The "Daily Worker", was the party's voice and newspaper, it espoused the Russian Communist Party line. The manifesto was "Workers Arise" and the existing government in America should be overturned, and if necessary, by violent revolution.
The reader should obtain a copy of "The Cold War" video series which was presented on TV station CNN in the year 2000. Film clips and comments are contained therein from the concert riots.
Peekskill with a population of about 18,000, had been carved out of the greater Town of Cortlandt in 1940. There were numerous summer vacation camps in the outlying areas surrounding the city. Mt Airy, in the vicinity of Croton-on-Hudson, was one of several places visited by workers from New York City. These summer and vacation residents were tagged for the most part as communist sympathizers, but there had never been any interaction between those vacationers and the populace. There simply was never any furor, confrontations, or animosity.
Into this arena came Paul Robeson, who had been a well-known and respected athelete, lawyer, singer, actor, speaker and writer. He was a champion of civil rights. Mr Robeson was also prominent as a spokesman for some of black community.
However, Mr. Robeson had become increasingly enamoured with the Communist Party line and was welcomed in Russia. He gave three concerts in Moscow in June of 1949. That was just two months before the August 27, 1949 first recital in the Town of Cortlandt, some 50 miles from New York City.
In prior years he had given three concerts in the Town of Cortlandt, all without incident. Mr Robeson was also prominent as a spokesman for some of black community. However, he became increasingly outspoken in support of the Communist Party line and praised Russia as a model for the United States to emulate. There are still conflicting versions of just what he said at the Paris Peace Conference but it certainly was a message to black people that if a war with Russia came to pass, they should not take part in it.
It should also be noted that not all people of the black persuasion embraced Paul Robeson. Congressman Adam Clayton Powell and baseballs Jackie Robinson disavowed him, even while several Communist leaders were placed under arrest.
This, then, was the atmosphere when it was announced that Paul Robeson would appear in concert in the Town of Cortlandt The concert was sponsored by People's Artists, Inc. The well known author, Howard Fast was living in Mount Airy, in the outskirts of Croton, NY. and at the time a member of the Communist Party in the U.S.A. In his book "Being Red", Mr. Fast describes how he was called upon by the well known folk singer, Pete Seeger, to be the chairman of the concert. Paul Robeson was to be the lead singer. Mr. Fast describes in his book, his own vivid and harrowing memories of the first concert. He had returned to New York City and did not attend the second concert.
Howard Fast relates in his book that he left the Communist Party in the late 1950's. We might ask, why?
Many verbal and written protest statements were made about the proposed concert. It quickly lost it's identity as a concert by Mr. Robeson and became identified as a gathering of communists and communist sympathizers. One can correctly surmize that the perception by the locals was not that this was not going to be just another concert, but one with distinct polictical overtones.
In summation there was a defiant determination to hold the concert and an equal determination that it should not be held. That was the prelude to the organization of veteran groups who planned to march and counter march in opposition, and in an attempt to prevent the concert performance by blocking off the entrance with their marching back and forth on U.S Route 6, and the entrance to the concert grounds.
It has been correctly stated that the Evening Star played a
major role in the tumultous events, in that the news story was
kept alive in the ongoing daily news reports, editorials and publication
of letters to the editor. The Star's position reflected the hardening
mood of the country towards the Communist Party. That mixture
of hate/fear was personified and embellished by the editorials
and letters that were published. However, I do believe that the
reporting of the actual violence that occurred in those two clashes
was accurately detailed, and unbiased.
The Confrontation on August 27, 1949
Various veterans organizations had received permission to hold
a parade, the purpose of which was announced as being held to
prevent the Paul Robeson concert. ( a clear violation of the right
to free speech).
According to Milton Flynt, Commander of Peekskill Post 274, American
Legion, as quoted in the Evening Star, "that objective was
met".
John Zimmer, of Cortlandt Post, Veterans of Foreign Wars was quoted by the Evening Star as saying that the American Legion, Catholic War Veterans Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Jewish War Veterans, Sam Slutzky Commander, received invitations to parade and they accepted. Also in the line of march were the American Legion in Putnam Valley, led by James Rush. Participants from the Hendrick Hudson Post, American Legion of Montrose and the William J. Boyle Post of Verplanck Cyril McDermott, Commander, headed the Catholic War Veterans. The parade got under way at 7:55 P.M.
The plan was to march and counter-march on US Route 6, (also known as Hillside Ave., and Oregon Road) in front of the dirt road which led to the picnic grounds and thereby block the entrance to that dirt, downhill road, which after several hundred yards became the entrance to the Hollow Brook grounds, (also known as Lakeland Acres). They marched and counter-marched and upon the third attempt they were halted by Sheriffs Deputies, and thereupon the marchers dispersed. The time then was about 9:00 P.M. There were no incidents during the parade as the Robeson supporters were in parked buses and cars away from the entrance and in the vicinity of Locust Avenue (off Route 6). Following the dispersal of the marchers, the vehicles, in a solid line, entered the grounds without incident other than shouting and fist waving. I did not witness any rock throwing at that time.
Although there were perhaps as many as 5,000 protesters along the line of march, it fell to a group of about 200 to initially get out of hand. As I have said there was a dirt road that led downhill into the area of the Robeson gathering. The attendees were well out of sight from the dirt road entrance. The stage, nor any of the concert area could be seen from the highway or the entrance.
A group of about 200 protesters went down the dirt road and at a point about 200 yards downhill there was a wooden gate, not unlike that which is used to keep livestock from leaving a grazing area. Behind that gate was an array of Robeson's people. It was obvious there was going to be a fight. Fists flew, and possibly more than that.
It was pitch dark by that time and difficult to determine just what had happened. One of the protesting veterans, William Secor, from Shrub Oak, NY, was stabbed in the stomach. He was carried out, taken to, and admitted to the Peekskill Hospital. Secor was 22 at the time, and a Navy veteran. That word of the stabbing spread like wildfire and the wound was deemed to be very serious. The mood, that was bad enough before, then turned really angry, vocal and became really violent.
Deputy Sheriffs attempted to force the protesters back but with only limited success. Many of the protesting demonstrators circled to the sides of the gated road and past the entrance gate. They gained entrance to the stage area and there wreaked havoc upon the stage and chairs. A generator providing lights failed and there was total darkness at the concert area. I did not enter the stage area so did not witness any part of that reported and pictured destruction. Other pictures taken at the scene show that the now out of hand protesters were burning chairs and programs in front of the stage. There is no doubt that the protesters were completely berserk.
Paul Robeson had been met at the Peekskill railroad station and taken away to safety by automobile. He did not appear at the concert. Although Mr. Robeson never came within miles of the concert a Russian Tass dispatch, as reprinted in the Evening Star quoted William Patterson, Secretary of the Civil Rights Congress as saying he prevented a lynching by hiding Robeson as he was on his way to the concert. Moscow also reported "outrage of American facists, attempt to lynch Paul Robeson".
The protesters, and at this point, I could not say if they were veterans or not, lined both sides of the dirt road and Route 6, and waited for the people to come out of the picnic grounds. The mood was very ugly. At that time I had returned to the top of the dirt road and the intersection of US Route 6 in order to take advantage of any picture opportunities that I was sure to get. Quite frankly, I was fearful for my own safety.
An exiting car was stopped, it's occupants forced to abandon the vehicle, which was then turned completely over. After that the pattern was set for any kind of mayhem - the protesters were out of hand. The Star listed 9 persons who were treated at the Peekskill Hospital, but there were dozens of injuries that were not reported but certainly the victims could be seen. There is ample photographic documentation of the fury displayed.
About an hour after the melee began, additional State Police and Sheriff's deputies, who had been summoned, arrived and gained control. The first episode had ended with several injuries on both sides and considerable property damage.
A decided worsening and hardening of opinions of both groups rapidly developed when it was disclosed that a second concert was going to be held.
 The Hendrick Hudson American Legion
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Much was written in the media, and the battle lines for the second concert were clearly drawn.
The Robeson supporters were determined to exercise their right to free speech and assembly, and veterans organizations were equally detemined that they would demonstrate their opposition to what they deemed to be an anti-American, pro-Communist rally, by staging a second and even larger protest march.
A date of September 4, 1949 was set for a second concert.
Over 10,000 people lined the route of march in the exact same area. This time, with ample notice, the New York State Troopers were out in force. Along with Sheriffs Deputies, and local police, they paraded themselves in a show of strength and assumed stations along the line of march on Hillside Avenue. All parade bystanders were prevented from entering the dirt road entrance, which was private property.
The parade started about 1 o'clock (a daylight event this time) but much bigger. Over 3,500 veterans, representing scores of veterans posts, with flags and bands, paraded behind leaders Major W.J. Palmer of Ossining, Arthur Link of Oregon and George C. Bartle of Peekskill. This time it was estimated that there were 15,000 Robeson fans ready to enter the concert grounds. Most of the Robeson assembly had taken place in NewYork City and Long Island, according to reports received by the Evening Star. The buses and cars were out of sight, being kept in a holding area. I believe that area was on Locust Avenue.
It had been reported that Mr. Robeson had accumulated over 3,000 people who were dedicated to protecting him. There is a picture showing them formed as a human chain around the interior concert area. Make no mistake, the concert goers came prepared for trouble. They carried baseball bats in the cars and busses. Many of the bats were confiscated by the Troopers. (see picture above). A group of several hundred Robeson supporters had taken up a position on a rise nearby the entrance and booed and taunted the marchers, in sharp contrast to the cheers from the veterans supporters, who lined the roadway. But that was the extent of the exchange. After a march and counter march, the parade was brought to a halt by the police. The chartered buses and cars then began to enter the picnic grounds without incident. I was at the intersection of Route 6 and the dirt road again, and took several pictures of the marchers and policemen.
I did not attempt to enter the grounds, and I felt that the troopers and police had the situation well in hand and there would not be an outbreak of violence at this second event. Nothing, exceeding catcalls, had happened during the march and the buses entered the concert area at a brisk speed. Mr. Robeson made a brief appearance and sang one or two songs. The concert did not last very long. Athough no one knew when and how he entered or left the concert area, his purpose of free assembly had been achieved and it was time to leave.
As the attendees boarded the busses and cars and came back upon Hillside Ave, the bystanders grew agitated and began surging against the lines of Troopers. Rocks began to be thrown at the vehicles from back in the crowds and once again things got out of hand. I must comment that the Troopers and Deputies did all that could be expected of them. There were scores of them there and they made a very, very serious presence. But they were no match for the disaster that followed. Early in the day I saw (and photographed) them pull one protester into the middle of the street from the crowd and conduct a thorough job of frisking. It was later reported that the man had a knife,. It may have been, but I did not personally see a knife, and it was not visible in my picture.
One might question why I would say that the Officers did a good job of control. A fair question if you were not there. They certainly were not able to control the protesters. As I said, there was rock throwing at the exiting vehicles at the dirt road entrance but from back in the crowd and the police did not dare break ranks to search for the instigators. At that point in time, the violence could not be compared to the intensity that I witnessed further away from the enrance road and fewer Officers to cover the scene. The area was wooded down to the road, and ample concealment was available. District Attorney George Fanelli said that it was probably the largest event ever staged in Westchester County and the police had the dual jobs of protecting both groups, each of which numbered in the thousands. He said there were over 900 policemen from all parts of the state.
I had parked my own car on Hillside Avenue, about a mile back toward Peekskill, and off the road. I was walking back towards my car and back along the parade route, where people were still lining the street. I felt that the news event was nearing its end. There were no Troopers or deputies in that area. When the buses and cars came out of the grounds they turned toward Peekskill, or at least many of them did, and when they were beyond the cover of the police, that's where and when the rock throwing became intense. At least eight cars were stopped and overturned. Dozens had broken windows. Although the attempts were feeble and isolated, there were also rocks being thrown at the bystanders from the windows of the busses. One parade onlooker was among those treated at the Peekskill Hospital. The rock throwing fed its way back towards the entrance road and despite the presence of numerous policmen, increased in intensity. Some of the cars turned up Locust Avenue and were set upon and damaged there. Police were dispatched to that area to clear away the anti-Robeson groups. The police lines became noticeably thinner as they attempted to spread themselves along the ever widening area of destruction. In addition to the damage to the vehicles, the Peekskill Hospital reported giving first aid and treatment to 30 or 40 persons that were injured on that Sunday afternoon. The Evening Star reported that more than 150 were injured on both sides.
In the aftermath a legal battle began. Paul Robeson and 27 others, filed a suit for $2,000,000 in December of 1949 and named two Westchester County veterans organizations and their leaders, along with various officers of police units. Among the many witnesses called was the sstabbing victim of the first riot, William Secor.
Due to the present day interpretation of the demonstrations as being anti-Jewish, I only include one name and two organizations from among those dozens that were sued, to verify my contention that the demonstrations were not racial, and not anti-Jewish.
Samuel Slutzky, Commander of the Peekskill Jewish War Veterans was also a named defendant. The Evening Star, along with most other newspapers covered the Grand Jury hearings, including statements and letters from the American Jewish League Against Communism. The Robeson suit ultimately failed.
I have laid down my interpretation of the mood of the country, and the perceived threat of Communism. I do truly believe it was the single act of the stabbing of William Secor that stirred the crowd to go beyond fists with an unbridled response to that single act.
There can never be a viable excuse
for the excesses that were visited upon the people who had the
constitutional right to assemble and speak. Having said that,
in my opinion the anti-Communist sentiment was already rising
steadily in America and these two concert events were the single
catalyst of resentment that led to the outlawing of the Communist
Party in the United States. Many people, and certainly the veterans
who protested, believed that the counter demonstrators had forfeited
their rights by advocating treason.
The rally and demonstrations may have well also given encouragement to Senator McCarthy to begin a witchhunt. Communism has now failed throughout most of the world, including Russia, and even though most reasonable people feel that the persecution at that time reached out and entrapped innocent people, who can say with certainty that if it had not been said, "Wake Up America, Peekskill Did", how the future would have unfolded. There were many pictures taken of the banner that was part of the parade. I believe it was carried by members of the Standard Brands Yeastmakers Union. It also appeared on posters.More than anything else it symbolized the anti-communist overtones of the protests and the identification of the "Peekskill Riots".
Why am I now, more than 50 years after the fact, writing and publishing my own version of what is rightfully described as an historical event? Simply put, it is because I was contacted by a graduate student of the University of Washington who obtained my e-mail address from a website and said that their group was researching these two momentous events and did I know of anyone who had first hand knowledge of what had happened. I responded that I was there and saw and, among others, pictured the calamities.
Having decided to participate in the proposed project, I decided to search the Internet to see what had already been published.
The first allegation is probably the most important to me personally. I grew up in Peekskill and the people of color were a small minority of the city. Some of the most memorable names are the Amorys, Jacksons, Boldens, and I could go on. They were and still are an important part of the community. There was never any animosity displayed.
Two things, then should be noted. As I have stated, I worked as a compositor for the Evening Star and "set" a goodly portion of the advertising. I cannot recall a single, not one, occasion when Standard Brands ran an ad in the paper, of any kind. It is possible they said "Merry Christmas" but that would be the extent, and frankly, I can't even recall that happening. Secondly, Standard Brands was for many years a "closed union shop". The printers union in the Evening Star was also a "closed union shop". In the many years that I lived in Peekskill, there was never a pro-union or anti-union occurence. There were, in fact, marchers who represented the Standard Brands Union. Now that he is deceased, I can disclose that one of the marchers who carried the banner, "Wake Up America" headed a Standard Brands Union delegation and his identity was well known to me and many others.
The demonstrations, or riots, or protests, or rallies, or determination to preserve free speech are part of American history. I do not know of any writings that depict the tragic events, other than those offerings by the biased concert attendees which all attempt to spin the events into anti jewish and racial bigotry. However, the video documentaries by the University of Washington and that of tv station CNN portray the events in much the same manner as I have attempted to do with this page.
We are now living in the year 2002. The threat of Communism in 1949, and the recent collapse of the Soviet Union, probably make the fear and anger of the time seem like much ado about nothing to most younger readers. But please remember that Russia was at the height of its military power throughout the world in 1949. These were veterans, fresh from the killing fields of Europe and the Pacific that denounced the dogma of Communism in the most forceful and bitter way available to them. It was ugly, but it happened.
Unless otherwise noted, these page are Copyright by Ronald Abbey, 2002