Deportation, its meaning and menace: Last message to the people of America by Alexander Berkman and Emma Goldman — John Shaqi
Deportation, its meaning and menace: Last message to the people of America by Alexander Berkman and Emma GoldmanGoldman, Emma
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Deportation, its meaning and menace: Last message to the people of America by Alexander Berkman and Emma Goldman
Goldman, Emma
Anarchism; Deportation
Whoever you are, artist or educator, writer or worker—be you but a true
man or true woman—there is important work for you. Let not prejudice and
narrow-mindedness blind you. Let not a false press mislead you. Permit
not this country to sink to the depths of despotism. Do not stand
supinely by, while every passing day strengthens reaction. Rouse
yourself and others to resent injustice and every outrage on liberty.
Demand an open mind and fair hearing for every idea. Hold sacred the
right of expression: protect the freedom of speech and press. Suffer not
Thought to be forcibly limited and opinions proscribed. Make conscience
free, undisciplined. Allow no curtailment of aspirations and ideals.
These are the levers of progress, the fountain-head of joy and beauty.
Join your efforts, lovers of humanity. Do not uphold the hand that
strangles Life. Align yourselves with the dreamers of the Better Day.
The cause is worthy, the need urgent. The future looks towards you, its
voice calls you, calls.
May it not call in vain.
And you, fellow workers in factory, mine, and field, a great mission is
yours. You, the feeders of the world and the creators of its wealth, you
are the most interested in the fate of your country. The menace of
despotism is greatest to you. Long has your masters’ service humiliated
and degraded you. Will you permit yourselves to be driven into still
more abject slavery? Your emancipation is _your_ work. Others may help,
but you alone can win. In shop and union, take up this your greatest
problem. Let not the least of you be victimized. Remember, an injury to
one is the concern of all. No worker can stand alone in the face of
organized capitalism with all its legislative and military weapons.
Learn solidarity: each with a common purpose, all with a common effort.
Know your enemy: there is no “mutual interest” between the robber and
the robbed. Understand your true friends. You’ll always find them
maligned and persecuted by _your_ enemies. The idealists, the seekers of
the slaveless world, speak from _your_ heart. Give them hearing.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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