To commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Rosenbergs' executions, the RFC produced a short film which we premiered at virtual events on June 14th and June 25th, 2023. The film includes readings and dramatized vignettes, interspersed with art, which draws from letters written by Ethel and Julius Rosenberg and other activists’ stories from within the RFC community. Amidst the rise of racist, xenophobic and nationalistic oppression in the U.S. across the generations, the film highlights the powerful current of anti-fascist activism that continues to this day.
Seventy years ago on June 19th, Ethel and Julius Rosenberg were denied clemency for the last time, and their executions were allowed to go forward. They lost their lives to the anti-communist hysteria of the McCarthy era.
The day before their deaths, they wrote one final letter to their young sons, Robert and Michael, sharing that they were comforted in the sure knowledge that others would carry on after them. The Rosenberg Fund for Children (RFC), founded as Robert’s “constructive revenge,” justifies their faith and provides support to the multitudes of people across generations who have continued the fight against fascism and injustice.
To commemorate the anniversary, we premiered a short film produced by the RFC on June 14th and June 25th. The event featured long-time activist and RFC Advisory Board member Angela Y. Davis, National Book award-winning poet and RFC Advisory Board member Martín Espada, Highlander Center Co-Executive Director Ash-Lee Woodard Henderson, Rosenberg sons Robert and Michael Meeropol and other artists and activists. This 70th anniversary commemoration honored Ethel and Julius’ resistance and legacy and shared 30+ years of RFC beneficiary stories that illuminate the ongoing battle against fascism.
The film includes readings and dramatized vignettes, interspersed with art, which draws from letters written by Ethel and Julius Rosenberg and other activists’ stories from within the RFC community. We concluded the events with a live conversation between Robert, RFC Executive Director Jennifer Meeropol and audience members. Amidst the rise of racist, xenophobic and nationalistic oppression in the U.S. across the generations, these events highlight the powerful current of anti-fascist activism that continues to this day.
Thank you to everyone who made the 70th commemoration so successful!
