Sacco and Vanzetti: 100 Years Later

When:  Apr 29, 2021 from 04:00 PM to 06:00 PM (ET)

On April 15, 1920, a robbery and double murder in South Braintree, Massachusetts, led to the arrest of two Italian anarchists, Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti. They were tried and convicted at Dedham Superior Court in 1921. No one could have foreseen that this local criminal case would become a global affair over the seven years the defendants were held in custody until their execution in 1927. The prosecution was fueled by the Red Scare, and the xenophobia then rampant in Massachusetts and the nation.

The execution of the two defendants, despite substantial evidence that they did not receive a fair trial, exposed structural flaws in our criminal justice system. The widely held belief that a grave injustice had occurred inspired painters, musicians, sculptors and writers from around the world to create enduring works of art in memory of Sacco and Vanzetti.

Peter W. Agnes Jr., who retired last year after a nearly 30-year career as a trial and appellate judge, will offer a multimedia-based review and assessment of the case and its continuing impact on society. A question-and-answer session will follow the panel presentation.

This session will be hosted using Zoom. Registration is required by 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, April 29, to participate in this program. After you register with the MBA, please look for an email from MassBar Education with the Webinar ID and Password. The email will be sent before the program on April 29.

Location

Zoom Webinar