The Agitator: William Bailey and the First American Uprising against Nazism
This story of an antifascists dramatic and remarkable victory against Nazism in 1935 is an inspiration to anyone compelled to resist when signs of oppression are on the horizonBy 1935, Hitler had suppressed all internal opposition and established himself as Germanys unchallenged dictator. Yet many Americans remained largely indifferent as he turned his dangerous ambitions abroad. Not William Bailey.Just days after violent antiSemitic riots had broken out in Berlin, the SS Bremen, the flagship of Hitlers commercial armada, was welcomed into New York Harbor. Bailey led a small group that slipped past security and cut down the Nazi flag from the boat in the middle of a lavish party. A brawl ensued, followed by a media circus and a trial, in which Bailey and his team were stunningly acquitted. The political victory ultimately exposed Hitlers narcissism and violent aggression for all of America to see.The Agitator is the captivating story of Baileys courage and vision in the Bremen incident, the pinnacle of a life spent battling against fascism. Baileys story is full of drama and heartand its an inspiration to anyone who seeks to resist tyranny.
Description
This story of an antifascists dramatic and remarkable victory against Nazism in 1935 is an inspiration to anyone compelled to resist when signs of oppression are on the horizonBy 1935, Hitler had suppressed all internal opposition and established himself as Germanys unchallenged dictator. Yet many Americans remained largely indifferent as he turned his dangerous ambitions abroad. Not William Bailey.Just days after violent antiSemitic riots had broken out in Berlin, the SS Bremen, the flagship of Hitlers commercial armada, was welcomed into New York Harbor. Bailey led a small group that slipped past security and cut down the Nazi flag from the boat in the middle of a lavish party. A brawl ensued, followed by a media circus and a trial, in which Bailey and his team were stunningly acquitted. The political victory ultimately exposed Hitlers narcissism and violent aggression for all of America to see.The Agitator is the captivating story of Baileys courage and vision in the Bremen incident, the pinnacle of a life spent battling against fascism. Baileys story is full of drama and heartand its an inspiration to anyone who seeks to resist tyranny.
