A classic. Six Young Communist bring Tom Mooney’s case to the world as they jump onto the 1932 Los Angeles Olympic track and in front of 100,000 spectators, including the California Governor, unfurling a banner before arrested as comrades in the stands threw out thousands of flyers.

‘Free Tom Mooney Runners Circle on Olympic Track’ from Western Worker. Vol. 2 No. 17. September 1, 1932.

Many Cheer Young Communists Demonstrators

It was August 13th, the final day of the Olympics. The last event apparently was concluded. Everything went smoothly and peacefully. In the huge stadium at Exposition Park athletes from all over the world–agents of Imperialism, whooping it up for their respective countries for weeks were leaping hurdles, throwing the shot, pole vaulting, marathoning–ballyhooing for the bosses.

Los Angeles, where the Olympics were held, is a city whose Chamber of Commerce brags about living in the “white spot” on the map. They subsidize the notorious Red Squad who try unsuccessfully to keep the city “white.”

During the Olympics the Red Squad, as usual, raided homes of militant workers, beat them up, smashed meetings, framed workers in court, before subsidized judges and anti-labor juries. The Red Squad were doubtless jubilant that not a single anti-Olympic demonstration had taken place to disturb the parade of Imperialist Athletes.

Governor James Rolph, Jr., of California, Tom Money’s jailer, sat in the stand. Herbert Hoover was honorary chairman. Logically enough Tom Money was honorary chairman of the Chicago meet. Hoover was probably fishing at Rapidan. Rolph was dispensing his harlot smiles from the judges stand. Tom Mooney was peeling potatoes and onions at San Quentin.

The sun was beginning to set. Suddenly there was a stir. Four boys and two girls, who sat quietly in a front row, jumped to their feet, doffed their outer clothing and leaped over the railing into the track. Underneath their clothes they wore athletic suits. On the front and back of their shirts blazed in crimson letters. the words “FREE TOM MOONEY.” Shouting free Tom Mooney they dashed around the track.

100,000 Spectators, policemen, plain clothesmen, Legionnaires and stool pigeons were held spell-bound by the courage and audacity. The records and spectacular contests paled into insignificance.

The officers and ushers seemed amazed into a state of paralysis. The heroic Young Communists–for that’s who they were–continued shouting “Free Tom Mooney.”

From the spot where the runners started, two young men conjured out a ten-foot banner with red letters painted on both sides “Free Tom Mooney.” Holding the banner before the gaze of the huge throng they walked down the track. They stopped in front of the judges’ stand. “Sunny Jim” Rolph lost his smile. Some of his satellites recovered their bearings long enough to leap savagely upon the signs and tear them to shreds.

LEAFLETS THROWN

Throughout the grandstands, leaflets by the thousands were being hurled in all directions. Countless hands grabbed them. “Free Tom Mooney” stood out in bold faced type. No one seemed to know who threw the leaflets.

In the meantime the runners were moving ahead. As they passed the bandstand the band played the “Star Spangled Banner.” Possibly some genius thought the youths would stop and salute the flag. But they didn’t. They completed the circuit of the track. By this time the high powered minds in the police department concluded that something happened. An army of heroic policemen, armed to the teeth, surrounded the Young Communists, captured them without firing a single shot, and took them away handcuffed. (Another record broken at the Olympics). Mooney sympathizers cheered. The Fascists booed.

Governor Rolph left the stadium herded by more than 25 policemen. The demonstrators were charged with “suspicion of criminal syndicalism.” Later this was changed to disturbing the peace and a public meeting. No doubt the governor’s peace was disturbed. He left pale and trembling. The Mooney case haunts him like Banquo’s ghost. At the governor’s convention in Richmond, Va., at the Chicago Republican Convention, now this one. And this will not be the last. The young comrades who put on this courageous demonstration, represented the Unemployed Council, the International Labor Defense and the Counter Olympics Committee. They knew in advance that they may be mobbed by the many Fascists there, but did not flinch. While they were running 300 correspondents from all over the world kept the cables busy. The story circled the globe.

Western Worker was the publication of the Communist Party in the western United States, focused on the Pacific Coast, from 1933 until 1937. Originally published twice monthly in San Francisco, it grew to a weekly, then a twice-weekly and then merged with the Party’s Daily Worker on the West Coast to form the People’s Daily World which published until 1957. Its issues contain a wealth of information on Communist activity and cultural events in the west of those years.

PDF of full issue: https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/westernworker/1932/v1n17-sep-01-1932.pdf