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  • University Archives Photograph Collection

The Rockwell "ruckus" incident, 1962

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The Rockwell "ruckus" incident, 1962
acu-ri-001
The Rockwell "ruckus" incident, 1962
03/08/1962
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Students gather on the stage of the Open Air Theatre (then called the Greek Bowl) to protest the antisemitic speech of the leader of the American Nazi Party, George Lincoln Rockwell. San Diego State student Ed Cherry is pulled off of George Rockwell, after Cherry punched Rockwell in the face in response to his controversial commentary. Cherry's friends Leonard Holstein, Jay Rasmussen and Andy Hanson pulled him from the stage. They are probably in his photography but not identified.
Date and information from The Daily Aztec, Volume 41 Number 72.
George Lincoln Rockwell; San Diego State College; Greek Bowl; Political protests; Fights; Open Air Theatre; Ed Cherry; Leonard Holstein; Jay Rasmussen; Andy Hanson
5500 Campanile Drive
California - San Diego - San Diego State University
© San Diego State University, 2007. All rights reserved
  • University Archives Photograph Collection
MS-0311
Photographic print; black and white
7.5 inches X 9.5 inches
No
1962_041_072
Self-styled American Nazi party leader George Lincoln Rockwell was slugged, hissed and booed when he spoke in the Greek Bowl March 8, as he hurled verbal blasts at minority groups to a crowd of about 3,000.


Rockwell said that he had no intention of causing trouble. "If I had wanted trouble I could have worn my uniform with my armbands and the whole works. Believe me, I know how to stir people up if I want to," he said.


Rockwell was slugged in the face by Ed Cherry, a SDS senior physical education major, when Rockwell said that "the Jews are engaged in a great conspiracy."


"I wanted to counteract Rockwell's lies," Cherry said.


A press conference followed in the Aztec office. Rockwell predicted that he will be in political power in Virginia within five years. However, he said that he has no special office to run for.


The following days found the incident receiving coverage on television and in newspapers all over the nation.


Rockwell was brought to the campus by the Committee for Student Action.

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