Socialists, Communists & Anarchists

Service Description

From 1880 to 1924, almost 3 million Jews left the Pale of Settlement in Eastern Europe for a better life where the streets were paved with gold, the land of opportunity: the United States. Most settled on the Lower East Side of Manhattan where the opportunity WAS abundant, but their salaries and living conditions were subpar at best. The great majority were not happy, but too overwhelmed by their new homeland to complain. But some, like Lower East Side residents Emma Goldman, Alexander Berkman, Morris Hillquit, Abraham Cahan and Meyer London, knew there should be a better life and were willing to do just about ANYTHING to get there. This walking tour will focus on these “radicals” - anarchists, communists and socialists all - who tried to change the structure of the American Way to improve the lives of these immigrants and improve their standard of living - whether through our democratic process or through lawless acts of violence. Some of the places we will visit: - The Daily Forward Building, - The first home of Emma Goldman in NYC, - Locations of radical cafes, - The location of the Yom Kippur riots of 1898, - The still active DSA - Democratic Socialists of America, - The Educational Alliance - whose benefactors were anything but radical - The Henry Street Settlement.