CUNY DIGITAL HISTORY ARCHIVE

This flier advertises a peace rally at City College's Lewisohn Stadium on April 23, 1941. The assembly, one of two held simultaneously on that day, was part of an annual April peace demonstration at the school and the college cancelled all classes between 11am and 12pm. The gathering at the stadium was reportedly attended by more than 2,500 students with the main theme being "to keep the United States out of the war" and "to guarantee that CCNY shall not be America's War victim no. 1." Attendees also protested the ongoing Rapp-Coudert hearings that saw to the suspension and dismissal of campus faculty and staff for their alleged communist ties. Speaking at the event was Canada Lee, a renowned African American actor of stage, screen, and radio, who would later be blacklisted for his political affiliations.