“...and that government of the people, by the people, and for the people, shall not perish from the earth.” ABRAHAM LINCOLN TheThe VVolunteerolunteer JOURNAL OF THE VETERANS OF THE ABRAHAM LINCOLN BRIGADE Vol. XXV, No. 1 March 2003 Vet Coleman Persilly converses with Angela Davis, the keynote speaker at the Vet’s San Francisco Bay Area Reunion, page 3. Photo by Richard Bermack we can best resist the U.S. government’s bid for global domination. On conclusion, this Lincoln Veteran of so Letters many historic struggles received a standing ovation. Keith Danner To the Editor, Lecturer, English Department Lincoln Brigade Veteran Abe Osheroff spoke at the UC/Riverside University of California under the sponsorship of the Center for Ideas and Society in Riverside, California on Dear Editor, November 19. Osheroff showed his film about the During and after last year’s reunion, four young Spanish Civil War—Dreams and Nightmares–gave a talk German anti-fascists met and interviewed some of the entitled “War without End?” and participated in a lively U.S. veterans. They are involved in a progressive history discussion with the audience of some 200 University and project in Germany and have been working on a docu- community members. mentary following Harry Fisher’s 2001 book tour across The audience was fascinated by Osheroff’s experi- their country. ence in the Lincoln Brigade and glad to have the The filmmakers Frank Dittmeyer and Jörg Briese opportunity to discuss the legacy of the Spanish Civil along with Ulrich Kolbe are planning to return to New War. But it also seemed that many people were equally York in April and would truly appreciate an opportunity moved by Osheroff’s exhortations—to young people in to continue their efforts and preserve more personal sto- particular—to commit themselves to lives that derive ries and experiences for generations to come. their meaning from something other than the accumula- Anyone interested in helping them with their project tion of wealth. His hopeful message that the and willing to give interviews, please contact the vets combination of passion and hard work can bring a satis- office or e-mail the German friends at fying life was well received. Several students that this [email protected] writer talked to after the presentation were inspired and Thank you very much! came away with a more hopeful vision of the future. Salud from Germany, At the same time, Osheroff minced no words when it Ulrich Kolbe came to the Bush administration’s current war drive, Bergstr. 10, D-06502 Weddersleben, Germany which he called an act of “criminal insanity.” www.consulteng.de Complementing this were the eerily appropriate last words of Osheroff’s award winning film: “In Spain we Letters Continued on page 19 had a chance to stop a war before it started. I don’t know if it’s possible, but shouldn’t we be able to tell our chil- dren we tried, we really tried?” In the discussion that followed, Osheroff noted that 5,000 children die every The Volunteer month in Iraq because of U.S. led sanctions. Anti-war Journal of the sentiment ran high in the room. Veterans of the The film, Osheroff’s presentation, and the discussion Abraham Lincoln Brigade left audience members considering what a life of activism an ALBA publication might mean for them, and how, in this current context, 799 Broadway, Rm. 227 New York, NY 10003 (212) 674-5398 Bill Susman 1915-2003 Editorial Board ALBA mourns the loss of its founder and Peter Carroll • Leonard Levenson inspirational leader, Bill Susman, who died on Gina Herrmann • Fraser Ottanelli • Abe February 21 in Sarasota, Florida. We will publish an Smorodin extended article about Bill in our next issue. Design Production For now, we remember how well Bill could Richard Bermack motivate a meeting, delight in singing Spanish Civil War songs off key, and dream the dream that this Editorial Assistance earth would be inhabited by free people. His legacy Carla Healy-London to us includes the challenge to carry on in that spirit. Submission of Manuscripts —ALBA Board of Governors. Please send manuscripts by E-mail or on disk. E-mail: [email protected] 2 THE VOLUNTEER March 2003 Angela Davis, SF Mime Troupe Stir Bay Area Reunion There’s an axis of evil in the year 2003, It runs from Houston to Miami up to Washington, DC “Which Side Are You On” with an added verse by musical director Bruce Barthol: There’s an axis of evil in the Roby Newman accepts a plaque hon- year 2003, oring Oliver Law. Newman’s father It runs from Houston to served under Law. Miami up to Washington, DC By Peter Carroll Post commander David Smith photos by Richard Bermack led the 11 vets onto the stage, and ith war clouds gathering in nearly all expressed feelings of out- the air, 600 friends, associ- rage at the impending war in Iraq. Wates and 11 Bay Area vets Nate Thornton earned an extra found inspiration for antiwar protest round of applause by reminding the and resistance from speaker Angela cheering crowd that never before Davis and the songs of the San had so many demonstrated in the Francisco Mime Troupe at the 66th streets against a war before it had anniversary reunion at Calvin begun. Simmons Theater in Oakland on On behalf of the Post, Smith February 23. saluted his commander in Spain, Angela Davis repeats the words of The musical troupe started the Oliver Law, the first African Dolores Ibarruri, “You are history. ceremonies with a rendition of You are legend.” Continued on page 21 THE VOLUNTEER March 2003 3 ists in photography, historians, and archivists: “Photography and News Briefs Photojournalism during the Spanish War” on March 26 and 65th Anniversary at the Ebro California/San Diego and long time “Remembering the Spanish Civil July 1938 marked the beginning ALBA Board member, has received War: Myths, Issues and of the Battle of the Ebro, an all-out the Antonio de Nebrija Prize valued Transmission” on March 31 at the attempt by the Spanish Republic to at 24,000 euros for his outstanding Invalides Museum. avert defeat and gain more time for contributions to the study of Spanish Two catalogues will also be the anti-fascist forces of the world. culture. released in French: The International The small town of Corbera became Jackson’s book, The Spanish Brigades: Newly Discovered Images by an important hub because of a huge Republic and the Civil War, 1936-1939, Michel Lefebvre and Rémi natural cave that served as the major published by Princeton University Skoutelsky (Paris: Editions du Seuil) hospital for the wounded. It was also Press in 1963, won the American and The War in Spain: A Flood of Fire a transportation center. The current Historical Association’s Herbert and Images by François Fontaine Mayor of Corbera invites all mem- Baxter Adams Prize and has set a bers of the International Brigade, standard for Spanish Civil War their families and friends to celebrate scholarship. Reconciliation the 65th anniversary of that battle for Ignacio Berdujo, Rector of the the weekend of July 4, 2003. It will University of Salamanca and presi- After the War probably be our last hurrah in Spain! dent of the jury that voted the ALBA & VALB invite you to join us award, said, “Professor Jackson has VALB Marches for Peace for an Evening of Film & marked out for several generations Discussion The February 15 peace demon- of Spaniards an entry point to the stration that drew over 200,000 knowledge of a fundamental period Friday, April 25 at 6:15pm people in New York City included a of our recent history.” Death in El Valle group of Lincoln veterans. As part of Jackson, who lives in Barcelona, (CM Hardt, USA, 1996) the Veterans Against the War in Iraq expressed appreciation “for the In Spanish and English with and for Constitutional Liberties, recognition of my work as a subtitles. A young American which includes Vietnam Veterans humanist.” woman travels to her family’s Against the War and Veterans for village in Spain to solve the Peace, Lincoln vets Harry Fisher, Paris Photo Exhibit Opens mystery of her grandfather’s 1949 Moe Fishman, and Matti Mattson In Paris, the Library of murder. marched with the VALB banner from Contemporary International Remarks by H.E. Emilio the New York Public Library to the Documentation and the Museum of Cassinello, New York Consul meeting place at 49th Street and First Contemporary History are hosting General of Spain. Followed by Avenue. The huge gathering an exhibition of photographs titled: Q&A with filmmaker CM Hardt. demanded that the U.S. stop the war “No Pasarán: Images of the NYU’s King Juan Carlos I Center plans against Iraq. International Brigades in the Spanish 53 Washington Square South In San Francisco, vets David Civil War” from March 27- June 14. Smith and Nate Thorton, backed by The unique collection of pho- family, friends, and VALB Associates tographs from archives, libraries and joined strong peace demonstrations photo agencies as well as from pri- (Paris-Nanterre: Editions Berg that numbered above 100,000 on vate collections around the world is International/ BDIC). February 16. curated by François Fontaine, histori- After Paris, the exhibit will travel —Moe Fishman an of photography and Rémi to Madrid from July 15-September 20 Skoutelsky, author of the history of and then to Barcelona, from October Gabriel Jackson Honored in the French IB contingent: L’Espoir to January 7, 2004. Spain guidait leurs pas. Historian Gabriel Jackson, emeri- The opening includes two round Film Screening: Into the Fire tus professor of the University of table conferences featuring special- On Thursday April 3, Julia Newman’s documentary film, Into Due to a typographical error in The Volunteer (December 2002, p.