A memorial was held yesterday Saturday June 27th at Judson Memorial Church on the birthday of Daniel Isaac “Danny” Schechter, The News Dissector, who died from pancreatic cancer on March 19 of this year, and was an American television producer, independent filmmaker, blogger, media critic, activist and supporter of Occupy Wall Street. He even wrote a book entitled, Occupy. He wrote and spoke about many issues including apartheid, civil rights, economics, foreign policy, journalistic control and ethics, and medicine.
While attending the London School of Economics in the 1960s Schechter became an anti-apartheid activist and made trips to South Africa on behalf of the African National Congress. Later he would help musician Steven Van Zandt assemble other performers to form Artists United Against Apartheid who released the album Sun City in 1985. Schechter produced and directed six nonfiction films about Nelson Mandela from the time Mandela was a political prisoner to his election and service as President of South Africa.
His Obituary,, Danny Schechter, aka “The News Dissector” aka “troublemaker,” grew up in the Bronx, in the union-sponsored progressive, Amalgamated Houses. His grandparents were immigrant garment workers who brought their socialist ideals with them from the Old Country. Ruth Lisa Schechter, Danny’s mother, was a secretary who became a poet. Jerry Schechter, his father, was a pattern-maker who became a sculptor. Danny attended DeWitt Clinton High School, where he served as the editor-in-chief of the legendary Clinton News. From there it was on to Cornell, Syracuse, the London School of Economics, and Harvard as a Neiman Fellow.
He joined the Northern Student Movement in high school and became actively involved in the Civil Rights Movement, going down to Mississippi in 1964. He became a leader in the movement to end the Vietnam War, was a member of SDS and began a lifelong commitment to South Africa in 1967 as an original member of the “London Recruits.” He fought tirelessly against Apartheid from then on.
Danny never hesitated to put his convictions on the line. In the 1970s, he turned back to his first love – journalism – and became the “news dissector” at radio station WBCN in Boston. He wove news and music together in collages that not only reported the day’s events but also helped explain how the world worked. He was a huge influence on those who valued his independent perspective – and trusted him. He went on to become a prolific, Emmy award-winning TV producer and filmmaker, who made “South Africa Now,” six films about Mandela, and spent decades criticizing and cajoling the media to do a better job covering the news.
He interviewed Bob Dylan. He walked with Jesse Jackson. He embraced the Dali Lama. Malcolm X nicknamed him “Danny X.” He was invited by Nelson Mandela to his inauguration. He was determined to “let justice roll down like waters” and to see all people free.
His commitment and integrity were never for sale. Friend to thousands. Great and loving dad to Sarah, brother to Bill and Denzil, and uncle to Ethan and Jamie. He was so much fun. So much energy. A solar flare. A meteor across our sky.
If there is an afterlife, you should soon be receiving a blog post from our beloved Danny Schechter, “the news dissector.”
In lieu of flowers, please send donations in Danny’s name to Cornell University, Cornell University Office of Alumni Affairs, 130 E. Seneca Street, Ithaca, NY 14850. Please specify that the donation is for the “Civil Rights History & Memorial Project,” which will honor Cornell students like Danny who went down south during the 1960’s. We do not want this history to be lost, but to live on and inspire students today.
Among those paying tribute to Danny Schechter was Steven Van Zandt, “Little Steven”, guitar and mandolin player for Bruce Springsteen’s E Street band and also co-founded the band, Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes.
The ceremony was commenced with the South African National Anthem and was then taken over by Danny’s brother Bill Schechter and his daughter Sarah.
People who knew Danny throughout his life and who worked with him at WBCN radio Boston back in the 70’s took to the podium to tell their stories about Danny and his commitment to justice and equality for all.
Help build an outdoor Civil Rights Memorial to keep alive the memory of Michael Schwerner (class of 1961), James Chaney & Andrew Goodman as well as the commitment of all the Cornell students like Danny, who went down south before or during Freedom Summer in 1964. The goal of the project is to deepen the memory and enrich the culture of the Cornell campus community. A fund will also be created to provide financial support to students who volunteer to do social justice work. Danny helped launch this effort at a public meeting in Ithica, NY in Nov 2013 because he felt strongly that we must not lose this inspirational history. Find out more and how to make an online tax deductible donation at www.civilrightshistoryproject.org!
Please see the Memorial page for Danny Schechter on Facebook for pictures and videos.
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