Goldman visited Milwaukee a dozen times between 1895 and 1920 and used her talents as a writer and charismatic speaker to advocate for worker’s rights, freedom for women
By Larry Widen
Less than 300 people attended former anarchist Emma Goldman’s lecture at the Pabst, an event to sell copies of her new autobiography. During the great Red Scare of 1919, the government had reached the end of its tolerance for Goldman’s ferocious rhetoric and deported her to Russia. She attempted to live in France or England but was rejected. She lobbied to return to United States but was turned away. Fifteen years later, Goldman, 64, was no longer feared by the American government, and she was allowed to be in this country for 90 days to accommodate her book tour. Even though Mayor Daniel Hoan was assured Goldman would confine her remarks to denouncing European dictatorships, he refused to introduce her at the Pabst.
Two decades earlier, Goldman’s rallies attracted as many as 500 people to venues like Turner Hall or a room above Gerhardt’s rowdy tavern at 27th and Vliet. A Goldman appearance always called for extra patrolmen to maintain order if necessary. Her messages often accused the government of using force, violence and coercion to maintain power. “We are in the midst of revolution,” she said. “Force can only be met with force.”
Goldman visited Milwaukee a dozen times between 1895 and 1920 and used her talents as a writer and charismatic speaker to advocate for worker’s rights, freedom for women and free love. Posters announcing her lectures were torn down, but word-of-mouth drew audiences anyway. Regularly arrested, harassed and barred from speaking, Goldman reminded listeners that her First Amendment rights vanished whenever she challenged the government.
