Rev Left Radio The Greensboro Massacre of 1979
Mar 23, 2021
Cameron, an organizer and activist from Greensboro, shares insights on the tragic Greensboro Massacre of 1979. He discusses the local Communist Workers Party's role, highlighting its confrontations with the Klan and the weapons used in the massacre. The conversation delves into law enforcement's negligence and collaboration with white supremacists. Cameron reflects on the long-term impact of the tragedy on community organizing and the ongoing struggle for justice and remembrance in Greensboro. Valuable lessons for modern activism are also explored.
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Graphic Survivor Recollection
- Witnesses described bodies and faces shot beyond recognition at the scene, leaving lasting trauma.
- A survivor said, "They shot these people down like dogs," capturing the immediate horror.
State Complicity In Political Violence
- The massacre exposed coordinated violence between white supremacists and state actors across local and federal levels.
- Cameron framed it as a "North American Death Squad," linking state complicity to broader imperial patterns.
Decades Of Labor And Racial Tension
- Nilija traced local labor and racial tensions from the 1920s–1960s that set the stage for multiracial organizing.
- She highlighted how mills historically relegated Black workers to lower roles, fueling later multiracial union conflict.
