‘1200 at Fierro Funeral Pledge War on Fascism’ from The Daily Worker. Vol. 10 No. 172. July 19, 1933.

NEW YORK, July 18. Marching behind the coffin of Antonio Fierro, slain by a Khaki Shirt at a meeting in Columbus Hall, Astoria, L.I., Friday night, 1,200 workers expressed their determination to avenge the young anti-fascist student’s death by uniting in greater struggle against fascist terror.

The sun beat down on the marchers for three hours, while the body was carried to Woodlawn Cemetery for burial. Di Bartolo, of the Communist Party, Sem Stein of the International Labor Defense and Carlo Tresca of the Anti-Fascist Unity Committee spoke over the grave at Woodlawn Cemetery.

The mass funeral, under the direction of the Unity Committee, started at 2 p.m. from the murdered youth’s home, 2238 Adams Pl., where, during the morning hours, hundreds of workers had walked past his bier.

Red flags of many organizations were held high in the air as the procession marched through Adams Place, Claremont Ave., E. 182nd St. and back to the home. Three automobiles covered with red flowers preceded the parade, directly behind the Red Front band.

Just behind the coffin, workers carried an inscription in flaming letters: “Workers! Fierro’s Sacrifice Calls for United Action Against Fascism!”

The band played the “Internationale” and the “Workers’ Funeral March” as the body of the young Italian was carried from the house. Two workers marched with clenched fists before the coffin. When the “Internationale” was played, every worker in the parade, as well as hundreds who lined the streets of this Italian neighborhood, raised his right hand in a clenched fist.

As the murdered worker’s body was being lowered into the grave, Sam Stein, speaking for the International Labor Defense, said: “If Antonio Fierro were able to speak right now he would say, ‘Do not cry for me but take up the struggle, smash fascism all over the world.’

The following organizations, among others, marched in the funeral procession: International Labor Defense, Tricolo di Cultura Opperaio; Branch 132, International Workers’ Order; Centro Opperaio of Harlem; Republican Party of Italy; Bob Minor Troop, Young Pioneers; Prospect Workers’ Club; Tircolo Proletaio Italiano; German Workers’ Club of Yorkville; Central Opperaio del Bronx.

The Daily Worker began in 1924 and was published in New York City by the Communist Party US and its predecessor organizations. Among the most long-lasting and important left publications in US history, it had a circulation of 35,000 at its peak. The Daily Worker came from The Ohio Socialist, published by the Left Wing-dominated Socialist Party of Ohio in Cleveland from 1917 to November 1919, when it became became The Toiler, paper of the Communist Labor Party. In December 1921 the above-ground Workers Party of America merged the Toiler with the paper Workers Council to found The Worker, which became The Daily Worker beginning January 13, 1924.

PDF of full issue: https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/dailyworker/1933/v10-n172-NY-jul-19-1933-DW-LOC.pdf