Igal Roodenko

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Igal Roodenko (February 8, 1917(1917-02-08) – April 28, 1991) was a Jewish US civil rights activist. He was arrested with Bayard Rustin in 1947 for deliberately violating a North Carolina law requiring segregated seating on public transportation.

At their trial, Rustin and Roodenko were both convicted. Rustin was sentenced to 30 days on a North Carolina chain gang. The judge said to Roodenko, "Now, Mr. Rodenky (sic), I presume you're Jewish."

"Yes, I am," Roodenko replied.

"Well, it's about time you Jews from New York learned that you can't come down bringing your nigras with you to upset the customs of the South. Just to teach you a lesson," the judge sentenced him to 90 days on a chain gang - three times the length of Rustin's sentence.

Roodenko was awarded the War Resisters League Peace Award in 1979.

[edit] References

• Stephen J. Whitfield. "Rethinking the Alliance between Blacks and Jews." In "Jewishness" and the World of "Difference" in the United States. (Williamsburg, Va.: Dept. of Religion, College of William and Mary, 2001.

• "Igal Roodenko Records, 1935-1991", Document Group: DG 161, Swarthmore College Peace Collection. Retrieved 13 May 2008.

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