Irwin Suall
Encyclopedia
Irwin Suall was an American socialist and researcher. He was national director of fact-finding for the Anti-Defamation League
from 1967 to 1997 in which capacity he directed that organizations undercover intelligence gathering on extremist groups.
to immigrant parents, Suall grew up in Brownsville, Brooklyn
and graduated from Samuel Tilden High School. After briefly attending Brooklyn College Suall joined the Merchant Marine in 1945 and stayed there for three years. While in the Merchant Marine he visited Jewish refugees living in squalor in Shanghai. This experience left an indelible impression on him. After his stint in the Merchant Marines, Suall studied at Ruskin College, Oxford
on a Fulbright scholarship. He graduated with a BA in political science in 1950.
Suall was always politically minded, joining the Young Peoples Socialist League as a teenager. When he returned to America he did brief stints as head of public relations for the Jewish Labor Committee
, education director for the International Ladies Garment Workers Union and national secretary for the Socialist Party-Social Democratic Federation. In the latter capacity he was instrumental in convincing Norman Thomas and others to allow the Independent Socialist League, or Shatchmanites, to merge with the party on an individual basis. Also during that period he was physically ejected from the Soviet consulate in New York when he and William Lusk tried to present a protest to Arkady Sobolev
, the USSRs UN representative. They were protesting the execution of Imre Nagy
, Nicolas Gimes and other Hungarians.
The 1967 Six-Day war
had a profound effect on him. He visited Israel
shortly thereafter and returned to America "a changed man" according the Abraham Foxman
. It changed his conception of socialism and he "began to realize that his efforts on behalf of democracy and human dignity were part of a larger Jewish struggle". He became fact finding director of the ADL that year and his work "reinforced his growing awareness of the intimate linkages between extremism, totalitarianism, and anti-Semitism".
Meanwhile Suall was still active in the factional struggles within the socialist party. He became aligned with the Shactmanites against the "new politics" wing led by Michael Harrington
and others. At the Socialist Partys final convention in December 1972, he and James Glazer presented a majority report urging that the group's name be changed to Social Democrats, USA (SDUSA). This action was approved by a 73:34 vote. Afterwords, Harrington resigned his SDUSA membership and founded the Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee
and the Socialist Party, USA.
Suall remained as head of the Anti-Defamation Leagues fact-finding department until 1997, when his fight with emphysema
forced him to retired. His work with the ADL was not without controversy. He was sued twice, by Lyndon LaRouche
and Liberty Lobby
. He was also criticized for expanding the focus of his activities to Black-nationalist, Arab and leftist groups as well as far-right organizations.
He died of emphysema in August 1998.
Anti-Defamation League
The Anti-Defamation League is an international non-governmental organization based in the United States. Describing itself as "the nation's premier civil rights/human relations agency", the ADL states that it "fights anti-Semitism and all forms of bigotry, defends democratic ideals and protects...
from 1967 to 1997 in which capacity he directed that organizations undercover intelligence gathering on extremist groups.
Career
Born in 1925 on the Lower East SideLower East Side
The Lower East Side, LES, is a neighborhood in the southeastern part of the New York City borough of Manhattan. It is roughly bounded by Allen Street, East Houston Street, Essex Street, Canal Street, Eldridge Street, East Broadway, and Grand Street....
to immigrant parents, Suall grew up in Brownsville, Brooklyn
Brownsville, Brooklyn
Brownsville is a residential neighborhood located in eastern Brooklyn, New York City.The total land area is one square mile, and the ZIP code for the neighborhood is 11212....
and graduated from Samuel Tilden High School. After briefly attending Brooklyn College Suall joined the Merchant Marine in 1945 and stayed there for three years. While in the Merchant Marine he visited Jewish refugees living in squalor in Shanghai. This experience left an indelible impression on him. After his stint in the Merchant Marines, Suall studied at Ruskin College, Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
on a Fulbright scholarship. He graduated with a BA in political science in 1950.
Suall was always politically minded, joining the Young Peoples Socialist League as a teenager. When he returned to America he did brief stints as head of public relations for the Jewish Labor Committee
Jewish Labor Committee
The Jewish Labor Committee is an American secular Jewish organization dedicated to promoting labor union interests in Jewish communities, and Jewish interests within unions. The organization is headquartered in New York City, with local/regional offices in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Chicago...
, education director for the International Ladies Garment Workers Union and national secretary for the Socialist Party-Social Democratic Federation. In the latter capacity he was instrumental in convincing Norman Thomas and others to allow the Independent Socialist League, or Shatchmanites, to merge with the party on an individual basis. Also during that period he was physically ejected from the Soviet consulate in New York when he and William Lusk tried to present a protest to Arkady Sobolev
Arkady Sobolev
Arkady Alexandrovich Sobolev was a Russian Soviet diplomat who served as the Soviet ambassador to the United Nations between 1955 and 1960. He was a specialist in international law...
, the USSRs UN representative. They were protesting the execution of Imre Nagy
Imre Nagy
Imre Nagy was a Hungarian communist politician who was appointed Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the People's Republic of Hungary on two occasions...
, Nicolas Gimes and other Hungarians.
The 1967 Six-Day war
Six-Day War
The Six-Day War , also known as the June War, 1967 Arab-Israeli War, or Third Arab-Israeli War, was fought between June 5 and 10, 1967, by Israel and the neighboring states of Egypt , Jordan, and Syria...
had a profound effect on him. He visited Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
shortly thereafter and returned to America "a changed man" according the Abraham Foxman
Abraham Foxman
Abraham H. Foxman is the National Director of the Anti-Defamation League.-Early life:Foxman, an only son, was born in Baranovichi, just months after the USSR took the town from Poland in the Nazi-Soviet Pact and incorporated it into the BSSR. The town is now in Belarus...
. It changed his conception of socialism and he "began to realize that his efforts on behalf of democracy and human dignity were part of a larger Jewish struggle". He became fact finding director of the ADL that year and his work "reinforced his growing awareness of the intimate linkages between extremism, totalitarianism, and anti-Semitism".
Meanwhile Suall was still active in the factional struggles within the socialist party. He became aligned with the Shactmanites against the "new politics" wing led by Michael Harrington
Michael Harrington
Edward Michael "Mike" Harrington was an American democratic socialist, writer, political activist, professor of political science, radio commentator and founder of the Democratic Socialists of America.-Personal life:...
and others. At the Socialist Partys final convention in December 1972, he and James Glazer presented a majority report urging that the group's name be changed to Social Democrats, USA (SDUSA). This action was approved by a 73:34 vote. Afterwords, Harrington resigned his SDUSA membership and founded the Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee
Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee
The Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee was founded in 1973 by Michael Harrington, who led a minority caucus in the Socialist Party. Harrington's caucus supported George McGovern's his call for a cease-fire and immediate withdrawal of U.S. forces from Vietnam...
and the Socialist Party, USA.
Suall remained as head of the Anti-Defamation Leagues fact-finding department until 1997, when his fight with emphysema
Emphysema
Emphysema is a long-term, progressive disease of the lungs that primarily causes shortness of breath. In people with emphysema, the tissues necessary to support the physical shape and function of the lungs are destroyed. It is included in a group of diseases called chronic obstructive pulmonary...
forced him to retired. His work with the ADL was not without controversy. He was sued twice, by Lyndon LaRouche
Lyndon LaRouche
Lyndon Hermyle LaRouche, Jr. is an American political activist and founder of a network of political committees, parties, and publications known collectively as the LaRouche movement...
and Liberty Lobby
Liberty Lobby
Liberty Lobby was an American political advocacy organization founded in 1958 that went bankrupt in 2001. It was founded by Willis Carto. In their own words,-Antisemitic world-view:...
. He was also criticized for expanding the focus of his activities to Black-nationalist, Arab and leftist groups as well as far-right organizations.
He died of emphysema in August 1998.
Personal life
Suall married Sarah Mountain in 1949, while in England. She passed away in 1969, but they had a son together, Mark. Sualls brother, Bert, and sister-in-law, Joan were also active in the Socialist Party and the SDUSA.Works
- This is Socialism! New York : Young People's Socialist League, 1950
- The American ultras: the extreme right and the military-industrial complex New York: New America, 1962
- Anti-Semitism in the United States, 1972 New York, N.Y. : Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith, 1972
- Extremism targets the prisons New York, N.Y. : Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith, 1986
- Shaved for battle: skinheads target America's youth (with David LoweDavid LoweDavid Lowe is a British composer, focusing primarily on music for television and radio, including all the current themes for BBC News. His first television composition was the 1983 title music for BBC Midlands Today, followed in 1988 by BBC Wales Today and he went back to BBC Birmingham and...
and Michael Lieberman) New York, N.Y. : Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith, 1987 - The skinheads: an update on Shaved for battle (with David Lowe) New York, N.Y. : Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith, 1988
- Young and violent : the growing menace of America's Neo-Nazi skinheads (with David Lowe and Tal Recanati) New York, N.Y. : Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith, 1988
- The 1989 IHR Conference: white-washing genocide scientifically (with David Lowe) New York, N.Y. : Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith, 1989
- Skinheads target the schools (with David Lowe and Tal Recanati) New York, N.Y. : Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith, 1989
- Electronic hate: bigotry comes to TV (with Thomas Halpern) New York, N.Y. : Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith, 1991
- The KKK today: a 1991 status report (with Linda Greenstein and Thomas Halpern) New York, N.Y. : Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith, 1991
- Young nazi killers: the rising skinhead danger (with Thomas Halpern) New York, N.Y. : Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith, 1993
- The Klan splits: a radical breakaway fact finding report (with Thomas Halpern and Michael A Sandberg) New York, N.Y. : Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith, 1994
- The skinhead international: a worldwide survey of Neo-Nazi skinheads. New York, N.Y. : Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith, 1994