John Turner (anarchist)
Encyclopedia
John Turner
was an English
-born anarcho-communist
shop steward. He referred to himself as "of semi-Quaker
descent."
Turner was the first person to be ordered deported from the United States for violation of the 1903 Anarchist Exclusion Act. Turner was a member of the Socialist League
, but left to become a member of the Freedom Group
, and later on became general secretary of the Shop Assistants' Union that he founded. At one point, the union attempted to nominate Turner for Parliament
, but he declined, preferring not to "waste his time in parliamentary debates". Turner worked on several publications in addition to Freedom. He was a member of the collective putting out Commonweal
, and also the editor of Freedom's syndicalist journal The Voice of Labour, which denounced the “blight of respectability” of mainstream labor unions. The paper began as a weekly in 1907, and advocated direct action
and the general strike
.
The same year, Turner, along with Guy Aldred
and others, formed the Industrial Union of Direct Action. Turner was also elected (in absentia
) to the International Bureau of the Anarchist International, formed at the International Anarchist Congress of Amsterdam
. Throughout the many changes in Freedom's history, Turner was its publisher from the time it was renamed Freedom: A Journal of Libertarian Thought, Work and Literature in 1930 until his death in 1934.
After the Russian Revolution, Turner traveled to Russia as part of the British Labor Delegation, and attempted to help Aaron Baron acquire reprieve
from a death sentence. Baron was subsequently charged with having "aroused public sentiment abroad against his imprisonment in the Solovietzki and having induced revolutionists visiting Russia to seek his release." Baron was then sent to a prison in Siberia
.
) lecturing throughout the U.S. He returned to the U.S. in October 1903, just 7 months after enactment of the Anarchist Exclusion Act, which barred anyone from entering the country who held anarchist
views. He was arrested on October 23, after giving a lecture at the Murray Hill Lyceum. When searched Immigration officials found a copy of Johann Most
's Free Society, and Turner's speaking schedule, which included a memorial to the Haymarket Martyrs. This was enough to deport him. Turner was held in detention at Ellis Island
for three months awaiting appeal of his case to the U.S. Supreme Court. Before the final ruling, Turner was released on US$
5,000 bail. He then did some lectures around the country, wrongly speculating that the Supreme Court would declare the law unconstitutional and returned to England before the judgment came down against him.
was an English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
-born anarcho-communist
Anarchist communism
Anarchist communism is a theory of anarchism which advocates the abolition of the state, markets, money, private property, and capitalism in favor of common ownership of the means of production, direct democracy and a horizontal network of voluntary associations and workers' councils with...
shop steward. He referred to himself as "of semi-Quaker
Religious Society of Friends
The Religious Society of Friends, or Friends Church, is a Christian movement which stresses the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. Members are known as Friends, or popularly as Quakers. It is made of independent organisations, which have split from one another due to doctrinal differences...
descent."
Turner was the first person to be ordered deported from the United States for violation of the 1903 Anarchist Exclusion Act. Turner was a member of the Socialist League
Socialist League (UK, 1885)
The Socialist League was an early revolutionary socialist organisation in the United Kingdom. The organisation began as a dissident offshoot of the Social Democratic Federation of Henry Hyndman at the end of 1884. Never an ideologically harmonious group, by the 1890s the group had turned from...
, but left to become a member of the Freedom Group
Freedom Group
Freedom Group is an American firearms manufacturer holding company which has acquired notable brands such as Bushmaster, DPMS, and Remington Arms.Freedom Group is owned by Cerberus Capital Management, a private equity investment firm.-Companies:...
, and later on became general secretary of the Shop Assistants' Union that he founded. At one point, the union attempted to nominate Turner for Parliament
Parliament of England
The Parliament of England was the legislature of the Kingdom of England. In 1066, William of Normandy introduced a feudal system, by which he sought the advice of a council of tenants-in-chief and ecclesiastics before making laws...
, but he declined, preferring not to "waste his time in parliamentary debates". Turner worked on several publications in addition to Freedom. He was a member of the collective putting out Commonweal
Commonweal (UK)
Commonweal was a British socialist newspaper founded in 1885 by the newborn Socialist League. Its aims were to spread socialistic views and to win over new recruits....
, and also the editor of Freedom's syndicalist journal The Voice of Labour, which denounced the “blight of respectability” of mainstream labor unions. The paper began as a weekly in 1907, and advocated direct action
Direct action
Direct action is activity undertaken by individuals, groups, or governments to achieve political, economic, or social goals outside of normal social/political channels. This can include nonviolent and violent activities which target persons, groups, or property deemed offensive to the direct action...
and the general strike
General strike
A general strike is a strike action by a critical mass of the labour force in a city, region, or country. While a general strike can be for political goals, economic goals, or both, it tends to gain its momentum from the ideological or class sympathies of the participants...
.
The same year, Turner, along with Guy Aldred
Guy Aldred
Guy Alfred Aldred - often Guy A. Aldred - was a British anarchist communist and a prominent member of the Anti-Parliamentary Communist Federation...
and others, formed the Industrial Union of Direct Action. Turner was also elected (in absentia
In absentia
In absentia is Latin for "in the absence". In legal use, it usually means a trial at which the defendant is not physically present. The phrase is not ordinarily a mere observation, but suggests recognition of violation to a defendant's right to be present in court proceedings in a criminal trial.In...
) to the International Bureau of the Anarchist International, formed at the International Anarchist Congress of Amsterdam
International Anarchist Congress of Amsterdam
The International Anarchist Congress of Amsterdam took place from 24 August to 31 August 1907. It gathered delegates from 14 different countries, among which important figures of the anarchist movement, including Errico Malatesta, Luigi Fabbri, Benoît Broutchoux, Pierre Monatte, Amédée Dunois, Emma...
. Throughout the many changes in Freedom's history, Turner was its publisher from the time it was renamed Freedom: A Journal of Libertarian Thought, Work and Literature in 1930 until his death in 1934.
After the Russian Revolution, Turner traveled to Russia as part of the British Labor Delegation, and attempted to help Aaron Baron acquire reprieve
Pardon
Clemency means the forgiveness of a crime or the cancellation of the penalty associated with it. It is a general concept that encompasses several related procedures: pardoning, commutation, remission and reprieves...
from a death sentence. Baron was subsequently charged with having "aroused public sentiment abroad against his imprisonment in the Solovietzki and having induced revolutionists visiting Russia to seek his release." Baron was then sent to a prison in Siberia
Siberia
Siberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
.
Deportation from the United States
Turner had spent 7 months of 1896 (at which time he met Voltairine de CleyreVoltairine de Cleyre
Voltairine de Cleyre was an American anarchist writer and feminist. She was a prolific writer and speaker, opposing the state, marriage, and the domination of religion in sexuality and women's lives. She began her activist career in the freethought movement...
) lecturing throughout the U.S. He returned to the U.S. in October 1903, just 7 months after enactment of the Anarchist Exclusion Act, which barred anyone from entering the country who held anarchist
Anarchism
Anarchism is generally defined as the political philosophy which holds the state to be undesirable, unnecessary, and harmful, or alternatively as opposing authority in the conduct of human relations...
views. He was arrested on October 23, after giving a lecture at the Murray Hill Lyceum. When searched Immigration officials found a copy of Johann Most
Johann Most
Johann Joseph Most was a German-American politician, newspaper editor, and orator. He is credited with popularizing the concept of "Propaganda of the deed". His grandson was Boston Celtics radio play-by-play man Johnny Most...
's Free Society, and Turner's speaking schedule, which included a memorial to the Haymarket Martyrs. This was enough to deport him. Turner was held in detention at Ellis Island
Ellis Island
Ellis Island in New York Harbor was the gateway for millions of immigrants to the United States. It was the nation's busiest immigrant inspection station from 1892 until 1954. The island was greatly expanded with landfill between 1892 and 1934. Before that, the much smaller original island was the...
for three months awaiting appeal of his case to the U.S. Supreme Court. Before the final ruling, Turner was released on US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
5,000 bail. He then did some lectures around the country, wrongly speculating that the Supreme Court would declare the law unconstitutional and returned to England before the judgment came down against him.
Further reading
- "ANARCHISTS ARE RAIDED; Murray Hill Lyceum Meeting Goes Wild with Rage. JOHN TURNER TAKEN OFF STAGE Locked Up at Ellis Island on Warrant from Washington, Which Charges Inciting to Anarchy", The New York TimesThe New York TimesThe New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, October 24, 1903, page 1. - "Anarchism and the Assassination of McKinley", Sidney Fine, The American Historical Review, Vol. 60, No. 4 (Jul., 1955), pp. 777–799