The so called Robeson Riots mark a shameful day in the history of this nation. Peekskill residents, driven by jingoism, racism and antisemitism, rioted in 1949, and assaulted concert-goers who came out to hear Paul Robeson give a free show opposing the war.
For that effort, Robeson might have been killed if he had not been turned back at the train station.
Peekskill Mayor Mary Foster has revived that hatred by blaming Public Housing residents, most of them Black and Latino, for Peekskill's economic woes. Her abuse of people of color at council meetings borders on Fascism. I cover all of that in this very important episode.