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Dear John,
Missing from history books is a key moment in America's culture wars.
It took place 50 years ago and is now called the "Hard Hat Riot."
The tactics used by Nixon to stoke division then are strikingly similar to those used by modern right-wing extremists like Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis.
In 1970, hundreds of construction workers pummeled around 1,000 student demonstrators -- including two of my friends -- during a protest against the Vietnam War in New York City. The "Hard Hat Riot," as it came to be known, ushered in an era of cynical fear-mongering aimed at dividing the nation.
Check out our video to see how this forgotten flashpoint in America’s culture wars still haunts us to this day, then share it with your friends.
When my friends called and told me about the news, it made no sense. Workers fighting against student demonstrators? Weren't we on the same side?
The student demonstrators were protesting the war and the deadly shooting of four student activists at Kent State University. The workers who attacked them carried American flags and chanted, "USA, all the way," and "America, love it or leave it." Some of the police even egged on the thuggery, with one reportedly shouting to the hard hats: "Give ’em hell, boys. Give 'em one for me!"
About 100 people were injured that day. Only six were arrested.
The eerie parallels to the present day are apparent in how President Richard Nixon exploited the riot for political advantage.
But rather than passing pro-labor policies to court workers, which would go against the values of the pro-business Republican Party, Nixon sought to use cultural issues like patriotism and support for the troops to drive a wedge between working people.
The class and race based tensions that Nixon exploited would worsen over the next half century. Today, the right is trying to channel that same anger and violence against the Black Lives Matter movement, the LGBTQ+ community, and whatever they consider "woke."
We must reflect on the same questions we faced in 1970: Will we finally recognize that we have more in common with each other than those who seek to divide us for political and economic gain? Will we build a future with prosperity that is widely shared by all?
I truly believe that we still can.
Please watch and share this video today so we may learn from this important piece of history.
Robert Reich
Inequality Media
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