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Ralph Schoenman

April 11, 2024

Ralph Schoenman (1935 – September 30, 2023[1]) was an American left-wing activist who was a personal secretary to Bertrand Russell and became general secretary of the Bertrand Russell Peace Foundation. He was involved in a number of projects supported by Russell, including the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), the Committee of 100 and an unofficial war crimes tribunal to try American leaders for their conduct in the Vietnam War. Shortly before his death in 1970, Russell publicly broke with Schoenman.

Life edit

Born in Brooklyn, New York, Schoenman was educated at Princeton University but then left the U.S. for Britain in 1958. He was involved in various protest activities during his student days and became active in the CND after arriving in Britain. This brought him into contact with Russell, for whom Schoenman began working in 1960. Bernard Levin wrote critically of Schoenman's influence on Russell, saying that Schoenman was partly responsible for Russell's virulent anti-Americanism, in contrast to his earlier pronouncements against communism.[2] Russell said of Schoenman, "You know he is a rather rash young man, and I have to restrain him.".[3]

In 1963, Schoenman participated as Russell's secretary in attempts to mediate a solution for the Sino-Indian border conflict, after China declared a ceasefire the previous year. For visiting communist China, the U.S. embassy in London put him under a travel restriction, stamping his passport as only valid to return to the U.S.[4]

Schoenman was an organizer and member of the Russell Tribunal, an International War Crimes Tribunal which visited North Vietnam and Cambodia in 1966-1967.[5] In addition to the group's own camera crews, Schoenman tried to negotiate network television coverage from NBC and CBS for the tribunal's visit to Hanoi, but was turned down in a dispute over the conditions. The networks charged that they had been asked to pay for the privilege and also felt that the restrictions proposed to them, including submitting footage for censorship, would imperil their objectivity. CBS News president Richard Salant said, "They are out to prove a point with investigations and they have an ax to grind".[6] Schoenman denied the allegations that fees or censorship had been requested, while noting that the networks would pay to acquire footage from others, as ABC had done to obtain film from one of the tribunal's cameramen.[7]

After making these visits, Schoenman argued in a hearing of the tribunal that the U.S. had committed genocide in Vietnam. He argued, "It is not possible to drop four million pounds of bombs every day on a country the size of New York and Pennsylvania without exterminating the civilian population".[8]

During the course of the tribunal, the U.S. government revoked Schoenman's passport because of unauthorized visits to North Vietnam. In November 1967, he was deported back to the U.S. by Bolivian authorities when he traveled there to attend the trial of Régis Debray.[9] As a result, he was prevented from attending the tribunal's proceedings in Copenhagen later that month because Danish authorities refused to allow him to enter without a passport.[10] This led to a sequence in which Schoenman shuttled between several European countries, none of which would admit him, before illegally entering Britain, where he remained for 10 days until being deported in June 1968.[11][12]

In December 1969, Russell made a public statement in that he had no contact with Schoenman and was unaware of his activities. Russell approved a vote to remove Schoenman from the board of the Bertrand Russell Peace Foundation.[13]

Schoenman then founded the National Committee for a Citizens Commission of Inquiry on U.S. war crimes in Vietnam to document US war crimes in Vietnam. The Commission of Inquiry travelled around the US conducting hearings on alleged atrocities in Vietnam.[14][15]

Later, Schoenman settled in Princeton, New Jersey, and was again able to travel, visiting Iran during the waning days of the Shah's government to raise awareness of the human rights violations of the U.S.-backed government.[16] The new Provisional Revolutionary Government expelled him in March 1979.[17]

Current activity edit

Since 2002 Schoenman has worked with documentary filmmaker, Mya Shone, providing commentary for radio stations in many parts of the United States and Canada, and produces the "Taking Aim" radio show, billed as "Uncompromising, fact intensive exposés of the hidden workings of a capitalist system addicted to permanent war".[18] In about 2009 they moved from broadcasting over WBAI to an Internet webcast.

Writings edit

  • Death and Pillage in the Congo: A Study of Western Rule, 1965, OCLC 77008718
  • A Glimpse of American Crimes in Vietnam, 1967, OCLC 468601
  • Bertrand Russell: Philosopher of the Century, 1968, OCLC 5768265
  • The Hidden History of Zionism, 1988, ISBN 978-0-929675-01-5
  • Iraq and Kuwait: A History Suppressed, 1998, ISBN 978-0-929675-05-3

References edit

  1. ^ "Ralph Schoenman: Unsung Hero of Progressive Thought and Action (RIP)". TRANSCEND Media Service. Retrieved 2024-02-20.
  2. ^ Levin, Bernard. "Bertrand Russell: Prosecutor, Judge and Jury". New York Times, February 19, 1967.
  3. ^ "Bertrand Russell Is Dead; British Philosopher, 97". New York Times, February 3, 1970, p. 1.
  4. ^ "U.S. Curbs Russell's Aide". New York Times, July 24, 1964, p. 13.
  5. ^ "5 on Russell 'Crime' Panel In Cambodia on 10-Day Visit". New York Times, January 13, 1967, p. 2.
  6. ^ Dallos, Robert E. "2 Networks Spurn Russell 'Court' Bid". New York Times, February 16, 1967, p. 1.
  7. ^ Schmidt, Dana Adams. "Fund Bid Denied by Russell Aide". New York Times, February 20, 1967, p. 13.
  8. ^ Schmidt, Dana Adams. "Russell Aide Accuses U.S. of Genocide in Vietnam". New York Times, May 8, 1967, p. 8.
  9. ^ Johnston, Richard J.H. "Bolivians Deport Aide of Russell". New York Times, November 3, 1967, p. 9.
  10. ^ "Russell Tribunal Starts 2d Session". New York Times, November 21, 1967, p. 6.
  11. ^ "Schoenman Is Returned by Netherlands to Ireland". New York Times, May 21, 1968, p. 16.
  12. ^ "Schoenman, Ousted By Britain, Arrives". New York Times, June 29, 1968, p. 2.
  13. ^ "Russell Disavows American Ex-Aide". New York Times, December 10, 1969, p. 3.
  14. ^ "Russell Clarifies Position". New York Times, January 13, 1970, p. 37.
  15. ^ Robinson, Douglas. "Ex-Pilot Alleges Civilian Slayings". New York Times, April 7, 1970, p. 5.
  16. ^ Apple, R.W., Jr. "American Describes Police Siege In Terrified Small Iranian Town". New York Times, December 18, 1978, p. A4.
  17. ^ Jaynes, Gregory. "Ex-Premier's Death Asked At Iran Trial". New York Times, March 16, 1979, p. A1.
  18. ^ http://takingaimradio.com/about.html

External links edit

  • Th Hidden History of Zionism online, at Marxists Internet Archive. (Also available in Spanish)
  • , by Bertrand Russell
  • from May 1968 on the question of whether to admit Schoenman

April 11, 2024
ralph, schoenman, 1935, september, 2023, american, left, wing, activist, personal, secretary, bertrand, russell, became, general, secretary, bertrand, russell, peace, foundation, involved, number, projects, supported, russell, including, campaign, nuclear, dis. Ralph Schoenman 1935 September 30 2023 1 was an American left wing activist who was a personal secretary to Bertrand Russell and became general secretary of the Bertrand Russell Peace Foundation He was involved in a number of projects supported by Russell including the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament CND the Committee of 100 and an unofficial war crimes tribunal to try American leaders for their conduct in the Vietnam War Shortly before his death in 1970 Russell publicly broke with Schoenman Contents 1 Life 2 Current activity 3 Writings 4 References 5 External linksLife editBorn in Brooklyn New York Schoenman was educated at Princeton University but then left the U S for Britain in 1958 He was involved in various protest activities during his student days and became active in the CND after arriving in Britain This brought him into contact with Russell for whom Schoenman began working in 1960 Bernard Levin wrote critically of Schoenman s influence on Russell saying that Schoenman was partly responsible for Russell s virulent anti Americanism in contrast to his earlier pronouncements against communism 2 Russell said of Schoenman You know he is a rather rash young man and I have to restrain him 3 In 1963 Schoenman participated as Russell s secretary in attempts to mediate a solution for the Sino Indian border conflict after China declared a ceasefire the previous year For visiting communist China the U S embassy in London put him under a travel restriction stamping his passport as only valid to return to the U S 4 Schoenman was an organizer and member of the Russell Tribunal an International War Crimes Tribunal which visited North Vietnam and Cambodia in 1966 1967 5 In addition to the group s own camera crews Schoenman tried to negotiate network television coverage from NBC and CBS for the tribunal s visit to Hanoi but was turned down in a dispute over the conditions The networks charged that they had been asked to pay for the privilege and also felt that the restrictions proposed to them including submitting footage for censorship would imperil their objectivity CBS News president Richard Salant said They are out to prove a point with investigations and they have an ax to grind 6 Schoenman denied the allegations that fees or censorship had been requested while noting that the networks would pay to acquire footage from others as ABC had done to obtain film from one of the tribunal s cameramen 7 After making these visits Schoenman argued in a hearing of the tribunal that the U S had committed genocide in Vietnam He argued It is not possible to drop four million pounds of bombs every day on a country the size of New York and Pennsylvania without exterminating the civilian population 8 During the course of the tribunal the U S government revoked Schoenman s passport because of unauthorized visits to North Vietnam In November 1967 he was deported back to the U S by Bolivian authorities when he traveled there to attend the trial of Regis Debray 9 As a result he was prevented from attending the tribunal s proceedings in Copenhagen later that month because Danish authorities refused to allow him to enter without a passport 10 This led to a sequence in which Schoenman shuttled between several European countries none of which would admit him before illegally entering Britain where he remained for 10 days until being deported in June 1968 11 12 In December 1969 Russell made a public statement in that he had no contact with Schoenman and was unaware of his activities Russell approved a vote to remove Schoenman from the board of the Bertrand Russell Peace Foundation 13 Schoenman then founded the National Committee for a Citizens Commission of Inquiry on U S war crimes in Vietnam to document US war crimes in Vietnam The Commission of Inquiry travelled around the US conducting hearings on alleged atrocities in Vietnam 14 15 Later Schoenman settled in Princeton New Jersey and was again able to travel visiting Iran during the waning days of the Shah s government to raise awareness of the human rights violations of the U S backed government 16 The new Provisional Revolutionary Government expelled him in March 1979 17 Current activity editSince 2002 Schoenman has worked with documentary filmmaker Mya Shone providing commentary for radio stations in many parts of the United States and Canada and produces the Taking Aim radio show billed as Uncompromising fact intensive exposes of the hidden workings of a capitalist system addicted to permanent war 18 In about 2009 they moved from broadcasting over WBAI to an Internet webcast Writings editDeath and Pillage in the Congo A Study of Western Rule 1965 OCLC 77008718 A Glimpse of American Crimes in Vietnam 1967 OCLC 468601 Bertrand Russell Philosopher of the Century 1968 OCLC 5768265 The Hidden History of Zionism 1988 ISBN 978 0 929675 01 5 Iraq and Kuwait A History Suppressed 1998 ISBN 978 0 929675 05 3References edit Ralph Schoenman Unsung Hero of Progressive Thought and Action RIP TRANSCEND Media Service Retrieved 2024 02 20 Levin Bernard Bertrand Russell Prosecutor Judge and Jury New York Times February 19 1967 Bertrand Russell Is Dead British Philosopher 97 New York Times February 3 1970 p 1 U S Curbs Russell s Aide New York Times July 24 1964 p 13 5 on Russell Crime Panel In Cambodia on 10 Day Visit New York Times January 13 1967 p 2 Dallos Robert E 2 Networks Spurn Russell Court Bid New York Times February 16 1967 p 1 Schmidt Dana Adams Fund Bid Denied by Russell Aide New York Times February 20 1967 p 13 Schmidt Dana Adams Russell Aide Accuses U S of Genocide in Vietnam New York Times May 8 1967 p 8 Johnston Richard J H Bolivians Deport Aide of Russell New York Times November 3 1967 p 9 Russell Tribunal Starts 2d Session New York Times November 21 1967 p 6 Schoenman Is Returned by Netherlands to Ireland New York Times May 21 1968 p 16 Schoenman Ousted By Britain Arrives New York Times June 29 1968 p 2 Russell Disavows American Ex Aide New York Times December 10 1969 p 3 Russell Clarifies Position New York Times January 13 1970 p 37 Robinson Douglas Ex Pilot Alleges Civilian Slayings New York Times April 7 1970 p 5 Apple R W Jr American Describes Police Siege In Terrified Small Iranian Town New York Times December 18 1978 p A4 Jaynes Gregory Ex Premier s Death Asked At Iran Trial New York Times March 16 1979 p A1 http takingaimradio com about htmlExternal links editTh Hidden History of Zionism online at Marxists Internet Archive Also available in Spanish Private Memorandum Concerning Ralph Schoenman by Bertrand Russell Irish parliamentary debate from May 1968 on the question of whether to admit Schoenman Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ralph Schoenman amp oldid 1209201055, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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