1939: Pro-Nazi rally at Madison Square Garden

On February 20, 1939, the German American Bund held a Nazi rally at Madison Square Garden. Over 20,000 people attended, with Fritz Julius Kuhn as a prominent speaker. The Bund promoted the event, which took place just two days before George Washington’s Birthday, as a pro-"Americanism" gathering; the stage featured a large portrait of George Washington with swastikas displayed on either side. Outside, around 100,000 anti-Nazi protesters gathered, attempting three times to break through police lines set up to guard the rally.