The Blast
The Blast was an English-language anarchist newspaper published by Alexander Berkman in San Francisco from 1916 to 1917.
Alexander Berkman: Alexander Berkman was a Russian-American anarchist, writer, and editor active in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. He founded and edited The Blast during its 1916–1917 publication run.
Anarchist press: The anarchist press comprises publications that circulate anarchist ideas, debates, and movement news. The Blast used this print tradition to address readers beyond its immediate editorial circle.
1916 San Francisco Preparedness Day bombing trial: The 1916 San Francisco Preparedness Day bombing trial prosecuted labor organizer Thomas Mooney for the parade bombing. The case became a focal point for radical protest and coverage in the period of The Blast.
The Blast, volume 1, number 1: The first issue of The Blast appeared in San Francisco in January 1916. It establishes the newspaper’s launch, editorial voice, and initial concerns.
San Francisco: San Francisco is a major California city on the Pacific coast. The newspaper was produced there amid a strong labor and radical publishing scene.
Industrial Workers of the World: The Industrial Workers of the World is a labor union founded in 1905 that sought to organize workers across industries. The Blast reported on labor conflict and addressed workers involved in radical unionism.
Thomas Mooney: Thomas Mooney was an American labor organizer convicted in connection with the 1916 San Francisco Preparedness Day bombing. The Blast’s political environment included campaigns over his conviction and claims of injustice.
The Blast, volume 1, number 2: The second issue of The Blast was published in San Francisco in 1916. Its contents show how the paper developed beyond its opening issue.
Anarchism in the United States: Anarchism in the United States is the history of movements opposing coercive hierarchy and advocating voluntary social organization. The Blast belonged to this broader political tradition.
Preparedness Day Bombing: The Preparedness Day Bombing was a 1916 explosion at a San Francisco parade that killed ten people and injured dozens. The bombing and ensuing prosecution formed part of the political climate surrounding the paper.