Film Screening & Discussion of "The Peekskill Riots: Episode 4"

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Age Group:

Teens, Adults

Program Description

Event Details

Join the Croton Free Library for a screening of:

The Peekskill Riots, Episode 4: "A Long Ways From Home" - The Riot of September 4th, 1949
Documentary Film by Jon Scott Bennett
Friday, Feb. 28 at 7pm

Local filmmaker Jon Scott Bennett will present the next installment of his five-part documentary series. This episode focuses on the second of the two Peekskill Riots of 1949, when the worst riot in the region’s history would unfold before the eyes of the world.

On Sept. 4, 1949, roughly 30,000 people were attacked after attending a Paul Robeson concert. A similar concert was prevented from happening the previous week by a racist and anti-Semitic mob. These attacks had thrown the small upstate community into a national controversy, prompting supporters of Robeson to organize a second concert to defend his right to perform and speak freely. 

With the governor promising an unprecedented level of police protection, many felt secure in attending the concert, assuming violence would not break out again. While the concert was peacefully conducted, attendees would be ambushed upon leaving the concert grounds. Projectiles and hateful epithets alike were hurled at the exiting cars and buses. Hundreds of attendees left the grounds bloodied, bruised, and outright maimed. 

Free and open to all. These films are not appropriate for young children and contain images and language that may disturb some people. 

To catch up on previous episodes, check out Bennett's YouTube channel.