Emma Goldman

Emma Goldman is an anarchist writer and activist, currently living in the Peoples' Union of America. She is famous for her role in developing anarchism as a modern 20th century ideology, and is closely affiliated with Elizabeth Gurley Flynn.

### *Importance*

Propaganda Minister of the Peoples’ Union of America (1933-1934)

### *Political Party*

Anarchist Federation of Labor (de-facto)Unaffiliated (de-jure)

## Early life

Emma Goldman was born on June 27, 1869. When she was a young girl, the Goldman family moved to the village of Papilė, where her father ran an inn.

At the age of seven, Goldman moved with her family to the Prussian city of Königsberg (then part of the German Empire), and she was enrolled in a *Realschule*. One teacher punished disobedient students—targeting Goldman in particular—by beating their hands with a ruler. Another teacher tried to molest his female students and was fired when Goldman fought back. She found a sympathetic mentor in her German-language teacher, who loaned her books and took her to an opera. A passionate student, Goldman passed the exam for admission into a gymnasium, but her religion teacher refused to provide a certificate of good behavior and she was unable to attend.

In the late 1880s and 1890s her and her family fled from Russia due to a rise in antisemetism and instead lived in New York.

## Turn to anarchism

On her first day in New York City, Goldman met two men who greatly changed her life. At Sachs' Café, a gathering place for radicals, she was introduced to Alexander Berkman, an anarchist who invited her to a public speech that evening. They went to hear Johann Most, editor of a radical publication called *Freiheit* and an advocate of "propaganda of the deed"—the use of violence to instigate change.

Living in the times of great American unrest after the Spanish Civil War and lived during the rise of socialism in America, Goldman was one of many who used her position and role to develop the far-left, but she stayed away from the Socialist Party of America due to ideological differences.

## Turn towards internationalism

While Goldman opposed American involvement in the Great War, an involvement that never materialized once the war ended in 1917, Goldman soon began following developments in a ruined Germany. While she was disappointed at the peaceful Entente-backed Republican revolution that disposed of the Kaiser and gave way to the German Republic, she, as many others saw an opportunity for the left to rise up in the country.

Once the German Revolution began as the working class revolted against the status quo, Goldman began fiercely supporting the war and calling upon the left in the United States to do the same. Due to her long-time affiliation with anti-government anarchist networks, Goldman was arrested in a New York State prison shortly before the Military Coup of DC.

## Role in civil war

Once the Republic of New York was declared, Goldman was one of many political prisoners released out of jail. In the midst of war, Goldman’s life changed profoundly, and she garnered nationwide attention for her role in the war. Goldman’s negotiations helped the new Republic stray away from targeting anarchist organizations within the state, while also being a vocal voice for anarchists to self-mobilize against the state apparatus.

Staying in New York for the majority of the war, she was one of the founders behind the formation of anarchist militias, still present within the Peoples’ Union.

## Rise in Peoples’ Union of America

Despite being well known and even respected by some of her rivals, her efforts to self-mobilize and encourage anarchists to work against the state had her become targeted by the Hardliners while still in power. While not outright arrested, her rights were curtailed as she was deemed an enemy to the state, and for the first half decade of the 1920s, her powers were limited.

The Spring Putsch, however, changed the situation dramatically. Due to various reforms especially at the helm of Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, restrictions against her and various anarchist organizations were eventually lifted. But as Flynn became more sidelined by new president Elmer Allison, Flynn has stated that Goldman was an undeniable influence in her turn to anarcho-syndicalism.

Currently, Goldman still lives in New York City and has been actively supporting fellow worldwide anarchist organizations, from France to Argentina.