History Daily: "The Greensboro Massacre"

Host: Lindsay Graham
Date: November 3, 2025
Episode Focus: The events, aftermath, and legacy of the 1979 Greensboro Massacre—a violent clash between the Communist Workers Party (CWP), the Ku Klux Klan (KKK), and the American Nazi Party.

Overview

This episode revisits November 3, 1979, in Greensboro, North Carolina, where a planned “Death to the Klan” march by the Communist Workers Party ended in bloodshed. Host Lindsay Graham explores the build-up, the shocking 88-second massacre, and the turbulent decades that followed as survivors sought justice for those killed by the Klan and Nazis. The episode highlights themes of activism, racism, law enforcement complicity, and the long struggle for accountability.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Leading up to the March

• Paul Bermondzon’s Arrival (00:00–01:20)
  • Paul, a CWP member, arrives at the rally, meeting media and protesters. He’s soon confronted by a recognizable Klan informant—a foreshadowing of violence.
  • “You asked for the Klan, now you’ve got them.” — Klan informant to Paul (01:19)
• Tension and Preparation
  • The CWP organizes the rally with a confrontational name, drawing widespread media but also intense KKK and Nazi attention.
  • Emphasis on racial justice and worker solidarity under threat.

2. Eddie Dawson: Instigator and Informant

• Background on Eddie Dawson (04:57–06:56)
  • Portrayed as a duplicitous figure, Dawson worked as an informant for both police and FBI, while simultaneously helping the Klan plan aggression.
  • He stokes Klan outrage over the CWP and incites them to action as the rally approaches.
  • "He thinks of himself as the one in charge and takes great pleasure that he knows more than anyone else." — Narrator (05:29)
• Manipulation and Escalation
  • Eddie leverages inside information from the police and CWP to steer the Klan and Nazis toward violent confrontation.

3. Morning of the Massacre

• CWP Preparations and Fears (12:09–13:45)
  • Signe and Jim Waller, key CWP activists, rally at home before heading to the march, Signe’s unease foreshadowing coming tragedy.
• Absence of Police
  • Despite obvious risks, police were notably absent—a fact that became highly suspicious in the aftermath.
  • “There’s plenty of reporters, but for some reason Signe sees no police.” — Narrator (12:53)

4. The Attack

• Ambush Unfolds (13:45–16:55)
  • Klansmen and Nazis, armed and prepped for violence, confront the march. Shouting turns to gunfire.
  • CWP members, some reportedly armed, are unprepared for the coordinated assault.
  • “The Klan are cowards and probably won’t even turn up.” — Jim Waller’s optimism, recounted by Signe (10:33), tragically disproved.
• Immediate Aftermath
  • Chaos and panic erupt. Signe sends her children home, only to return and find her husband Jim among the five dead—an anguished and unforgettable moment.
  • “Back at her house, Signe is relieved to find her children safe and sound. But her husband Jim is nowhere to be seen… all her nightmares come true.” (15:40)

5. Legal Aftermath and Community Response

• First Trial: 1980 (18:08–20:28)
  • All-white jury acquits six Klan and Nazi defendants, citing self-defense despite televised evidence.
  • Many blame the CWP for inciting violence, deepening community divides.
  • "To Signe, this is nonsense. She never wanted to do anything that would make her and her friends lose their loved ones." — Narrator (18:55)
• Further Trials and Civil Proceedings
  • Second federal trial ends with another acquittal.
  • 1985 civil suit results in a settlement, but without admission of fault.
• Long-Term Fallout
  • The massacre is quickly overshadowed by the Iran Hostage Crisis but leaves permanent scars in Greensboro.
  • “Though the attack lasted just 88 seconds, for many residents, life will never be the same.” — (16:54)

6. Legacy and Modern Reckoning

• Continued Search for Justice (20:29–21:29)
  • Surviving CWP members and families campaign for years for accountability.
• Official Apology
  • In 2020, Greensboro City Council apologizes and acknowledges that police had foreknowledge but failed to act.
  • “Members of the CWP will welcome the council's resolution, but it won't erase the grief that had followed many of them since five of their peers were shot and killed.” (21:30)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "You asked for the Klan, now you've got them." — Klan informant to Paul Bermondzon (01:19)
• "He thinks of himself as the one in charge and takes great pleasure that he knows more than anyone else." — Narrator on Eddie Dawson (05:29)
• "The Klan are cowards and probably won’t even turn up." — Jim Waller, recounted by Signe (10:33)
• "There’s plenty of reporters, but for some reason Signe sees no police." — Narrator (12:53)
• "Though the attack lasted just 88 seconds, for many residents, life will never be the same." — Narrator (16:54)
• "To Signe, this is nonsense. She never wanted to do anything that would make her and her friends lose their loved ones." — Narrator on blame shifting (18:55)
• "Members of the CWP will welcome the council's resolution, but it won't erase the grief that had followed many of them since five of their peers were shot and killed on November 3, 1979." — Narrator (21:30)

Important Timestamps

• 00:00–01:20: March begins, hostile encounter with informant.
• 04:57–06:56: Focus on Eddie Dawson’s background, infiltration, and instigation.
• 10:33: Signe and Jim Waller’s fears before the rally.
• 12:09–13:45: CWP preparations, conspicuous police absence.
• 13:45–16:55: The massacre—ambush and aftermath, death of Jim Waller.
• 18:08–21:29: Legal trials, acquittals, civil lawsuit, community trauma, and eventual apology.

Episode Tone & Style

Lindsay Graham delivers with gravity and empathy, allowing the details to speak for themselves while retaining a sense of urgency and sorrow. The narrative is vivid and personal, making it accessible and affecting for listeners.

Summary

In recapping the events of the Greensboro Massacre, this episode illuminates the dangerous intersection of activism, hate groups, police negligence, and enduring community wounds. Through detailed storytelling and well-chosen personal perspectives, it confronts the long shadow cast by November 3, 1979, and the unresolved quest for justice that followed.