The Peekskill Riots Ep. 2: "The Friendly Town By The River"

The Peekskill Riots Ep. 2: "The Friendly Town By The River" screening at the Mahopac Public Library

To understand Peekskill during the Riots, we must first understand the forgotten past of the “Friendly Town” by the River. The culture of hatred strengthened by the Ku Klux Klan shaped Peekskill for decades, while the working class, Jewish summer colonies of the region provided an opportunity for a progressive culture to blossom in the Hudson Valley. The duality of Peekskill’s long-lost history contextualizes the atmosphere of hate and those who would become victim to it.

This second episode of a 5-part docu-series explores Peekskill before the riots to contextualize the bubbling tension that would burst in 1949.

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