Activism on My Mind

Much has been covered in the news of late about the clampdown by the current administration on college activists who support an anti-Israel geopolitical position. As the news of the day often informs my writing, I decided to add to the draft of my new book, Leibisch’s Journey, an activist named Camellia, who fled Sicily in 1918 to avoid prison for her Socialist-leaning support of farm workers. She is 18 years old when she meets Leibisch in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where they both find safe harbor—Leibisch only temporarily while on his journey to join his brother in America. Given the turmoil going on today between campus activism and illegal immigrant issues, I thought a bit of historical activism might add interest and relevance to my book.

Activism was widespread in Europe and South America in the early 1900s, particularly among the youth. These activists, however, were not undergraduates attending Columbia College. But no matter the age or time, what they all have in common is that they are motivated by their own type of idealism. The importance of free speech under the current administration makes the historical impact of today’s policy troubling. Although I do not agree with the anti-Israel activism, I still feel strongly that the principles of free speech and due process should prevail. I suspect with the burden of proof on the government to show legal grounds, most activists will suffer a major interruption in their lives long before their day in court occurs.