Local filmmaker Jon Scott Bennett returns to present the fifth and final episode of The Peekskill Riots documentary series.

After thousands of concertgoers were attacked during the Peekskill Riots of 1949, the same system that sanctioned this violence began rewriting history to make it seem as though it never happened.

This was done on a national level by erasing the career and legacy of Paul Robeson. His records, books, films, and writings were taken out of distribution, altered, or suppressed so that his influence as a force for change could be extinguished. Local figures in Peekskill followed this trend, downplaying and reframing the riots, either to blame Paul Robeson solely or to hide the story altogether. History is repeated by those who do not learn it, which is why they will do everything to ensure you can’t either.

The fifth and final episode of the docu-series uses this history as an example of how the cover-up was just as destructive as the riots themselves.

Free and open to all.

This documentary is being presented for educational purposes. Please be advised that the documentary contains scenes and language that some viewers may find disturbing. Viewer discretion is advised.