On this day 75 years ago, August 23, 1927, two Italian-American anarchists Nicola Sacco and Bartalomeo Vanzetti were executed in Massachusetts. They were sentenced to death on charges of murder and robbery but many historians consider the case to be the most unjust and politically charged murder case in U.S. history.

To quote from Emma Goldman, “Sacco and Vanzetti died, as the entire world knows today, because they were Anarchists. That is to say, because they believed and preached human brotherhood and freedom. As such, they could expect neither justice nor humanity. For the Masters of Life can forgive any offense or crime but never an attempt to undermine their security on the backs of the masses. Therefore Sacco and Vanzetti had to die, notwithstanding the protests of the entire world.”

On this the 75th anniversary, the protests continue. Activists around the world are commemorating the execution with public rallies and teach-ins today. In New York a four-hour memorial will be held in Union Square beginning at 5 p.m.

We are joined now by the author Howard Fast who wrote “The Passion for Sacco & Vanzetti” in 1953.

Guest:

• Howard Fast, author of 'The Passion of Sacco and Vanzetti'