Lenni Brenner facts for kids

Lenni Brenner (born in 1937) is an American writer and activist. In the 1960s, he was an important figure in the Civil Rights Movement. He also spoke out strongly against the Vietnam War. Later, starting in the 1980s, his work focused on anti-Zionism. He has written many books about the history of Zionism, claiming that the movement worked with the Nazis.

Early Life and History Interest

Lenni Brenner was born in 1937 into an Orthodox Jewish family. He became interested in history at a young age. He read The Story of Mankind by Hendrik Willem van Loon when he was only seven years old. His brother had received the book as a gift.

Early Political Work

Brenner became involved in the Civil Rights Movement in the United States. This movement worked to end unfair treatment and segregation against African Americans. He met James Farmer, who helped organize the Freedom Rides in the early 1960s. These rides challenged segregation on buses.

Brenner also worked with Bayard Rustin. Rustin helped organize the famous 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. At this march, Martin Luther King Jr. gave his "I Have a Dream" speech. Brenner was arrested three times during peaceful protests called "sit-ins" in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Activism in Berkeley, 1964

In 1962, Brenner, who was then known as Glaser, moved to Berkeley, California. He became a well-known speaker on the Berkeley campus. He often gave passionate speeches to students. He protested issues like President Kennedy's actions during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. He once spoke non-stop for 12 hours about the crisis.

The university had rules against political activities on campus. Speakers had to stand on city-owned sidewalks outside the campus. However, tables with leaflets were allowed a few steps inside. In September 1964, the university changed its rules. It banned these tables from a walkway that was technically university property. This new rule led to many students protesting.

The Free Speech Movement Begins

On October 1, 1964, a student named Jack Weinberg challenged the new rule. He set up a table in Sproul Plaza to collect money for the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE). Many students were helping the Civil Rights Movement at the time. They wanted to help African Americans register to vote.

When Weinberg refused to identify himself, campus police tried to arrest him. Weinberg used a peaceful protest method called "going limp." This meant he did not resist, but he also did not help the police. He had to be carried to a police car.

Hundreds of students quickly surrounded the police car. Brenner was one of the first to try and block the car. He reportedly rolled under it to stop it from moving. Many others joined him, and the car was stuck for 32 hours. The hood of the car became a platform for speeches. Mario Savio, a philosophy student, gave speeches, and Joan Baez sang. Thousands of students gathered to support the protest.

Brenner later said he was against the large demonstration that followed. He asked Weinberg if he wanted to leave the car, but Weinberg said no. Weinberg believed his presence there was important for the protest. The university saw Brenner as a troublemaker.

Later Activism and Writing

Brenner joined the Free Speech Movement when it started in the mid-1960s. He was also an activist against the Vietnam War. In 1968, he helped create the National Association for Irish Justice. This group was connected to the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association.

In the 1990s, Brenner worked with Kwame Ture (also known as Stokely Carmichael), a leader in the Black Power movement. They co-founded a group called the Committee against Zionism and Racism. They also published a newspaper called The Anti-War Activist.

Brenner has spoken at events like Israeli Apartheid Week, which discusses the conflict in the Middle East.

Books and Articles

Brenner's books have been translated into many languages. They have been reviewed by major newspapers and magazines around the world. His articles have appeared in publications focused on the Middle East and left-wing politics. These include The Nation, Amsterdam News, and New Statesman.

One of his books, Zionism in the Age of the Dictators (1983), was reviewed positively by activist Uri Davis. Davis said the book had valuable information and showed Brenner's strong moral and political views.

Some people have criticized Brenner's work. For example, historian Michael Burleigh said that Brenner and others sometimes stretched small events into something more significant.