During the Spanish Civil War (1936-39), almost forty thousand men and women from fifty-two countries, including 2,800 Americans volunteered to travel to Spain and join the International Brigades to help fight fascism. The U.S. volunteers served in various units and came to be known collectively as the Abraham Lincoln Brigade.
Join us and learn about the diverse mosaic of stories that make up the Abraham Lincoln Brigade and the legacy of American Anti-fascist activism in the 20th century and today.
Also, check out our past programming by enjoying our archived event videos, including our most recent events below!
As unprecedented tragedies and calamities due to climate change continue to besiege our planet, ALBA views climate change as the defining issue of our time. While the Lincoln Brigade may not have envisioned this existential threat, they understood far more than others global perils of this magnitude, threatening our very existence. ALBA encourages members of our community to take all appropriate actions, including civic and political involvement, mobilizations and demonstrations, lobbying of elected and appointed officials, and personal efforts to lessen one’s carbon footprint.
ALBA Board Members and daughters of veterans of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade, Josie Yurek and Nancy Wallach shared excerpts and analysis on Art Shields’s fascinating autobiography On the Battle Lines, 1919-1939.
2023 ALBA/Puffin Award for Human Rights Activism
Is Awarded to
Indigenous Women Rising
Fifty years after Roe v. Wade, the Abraham Lincoln Brigade Archives (ALBA) announces that the 2023 ALBA/Puffin Award for Human Rights Activism will go to Indigenous Women Rising (IWR). One of the largest monetary awards for human rights in the world, the ALBA/Puffin Award is a $100,000 cash prize granted annually by ALBA and the Puffin Foundation to honor the nearly 3,000 Americans who volunteered in the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) to fight fascism under the banner of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade.
“We are privileged to have Indigenous Women Rising as the recipient of this year’s ALBA/Puffin Human Rights Award,” said Jack Mayerhofer, chair of ALBA’s Human Rights Committee. “IWR is tirelessly advocating and working for reproductive justice for those whose human rights have been unacceptably curtailed both before and since the reprehensible June 2022 decision. Due to centuries of systemic and deep-seated racism, Indigenous communities across the United States and Canada have for too long been denied the health care and justice they deserve, and this is only being made worse by Dobbs v. Jackson. We are honored to partner with an organization that so boldly combats this racism and fights for the healthcare and reproductive rights of Indigenous communities.”
Following the assault against reproductive rights after Dobbs v. Jackson, ALBA and The Puffin Foundation renewed their commitment to reproductive justice, particularly in underserved communities. IWR is committed to honoring Native & Indigenous People’s inherent right to equitable and culturally safe health options through accessible health education, resources, and advocacy.
“The Supreme Court’s deplorable Dobbs decision that stripped away federal privacy and reproductive rights is yet another horrifying setback for those seeking to manage their own bodies and health. But the impact of such decisions has always fallen hardest on marginalized populations. That’s why the work of Indigenous Women Rising is all the more impactful and important to support. We’re honored to be presenting this year’s ALBA/Puffin Award to them for their targeted, meaningful work that honors the inherent health rights of Native and Indigenous People.” said Neal Rosenstein, President of The Puffin Foundation
IWR is an Indigenous-led full-spectrum reproductive justice organization. They help Indigenous families pay for and access abortion care, menstrual hygiene, culturally sensitive education, and midwifery funding and support. Now, IWR creates the space for Indigenous people to tell their stories on their terms as an act of resistance, self-love, and love for ancestors and family. They reclaim what colonialism and white supremacy have tried to take away: identity, culture, tradition, and language.
“Indigenous Women Rising (IWR) is honored to receive the ALBA/Puffin Award for Human Rights Activism,” said Rachael Lorenzo, Executive Director of Indigenous Women Rising “Indigenous people’s rights throughout the world have been trampled by colonialism, disrupting our connections with each other, our children, our land, and all other living beings. Our work is built on our own traditional Pueblo and Apache values that our matriarchs are powerful and our children are the future. Abortion has always been a part of our story and our right to our own bodies is the most sacred thing we have. We knew, based on our individual life circumstances, and the threat of war, famine, or pending migration, can alter an individual’s decision to terminate their pregnancy. It’s not so different than now. We will always make sure our people have access to the care they want, whether it’s abortion or prenatal care because we believe denying our sexual selves is inhumane.”
ALBA Statement on Abortion Rights
In response to today’s ruling The Abraham Lincoln Brigade Archives (ALBA) reaffirms that it stands with the majority of Americans who support ensuring access to safe and legal abortion for all. Intrusion into an individual’s reproductive life poses a direct threat to economic and social justice, with a particularly devastating impact on women of color and low-income families. ALBA opposes any and all attacks on the fundamental rights established 50 years ago in Roe v. Wade. Keep abortion safe and legal! – ALBA Board of Governors
Ways to get organized and mobilized, from New York Magazine: Click Here
2022 ALBA/Puffin Award for Human Rights Activism
Is Awarded to
On January 6, 2022, the one-year anniversary of the horrific assault on our nation’s capital, the Abraham Lincoln Brigade Archives (ALBA) announced that the 2022 ALBA/Puffin Award for Human Rights Activism would be awarded to Life After Hate (LAH). One of the largest monetary awards for human rights in the world, the ALBA/Puffin Award is a $100,000 cash prize granted annually by ALBA and the Puffin Foundation to honor the nearly 3,000 Americans who volunteered in the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) to fight fascism under the banner of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade. The award ceremony took place at a live online gala on Saturday, April 30, 2022.
Due to the alarming rise of fascism in America, as witnessed one year ago in Washington, ALBA and The Puffin Foundation renew their commitment to combating far-right extremism. LAH is an organization whose mission is helping people leave the violent far-right to connect with humanity and lead compassionate lives. Their vision is a world that allows people to change and contribute to a society without violence. The work of LAH will help ensure that the horrendous events of January 6 are never repeated.
Life After Hate is a leader in the violence intervention community and the first nonprofit in the U.S. dedicated to helping individuals disengage from violent far-right hate groups and hateful online spaces. Since its founding in 2011, LAH has expanded its services to include family members of individuals who are involved with or are disengaging from the violent far-right.
A central part of the LAH mission is their innovative approach to interventions. A multidisciplinary team model pairs former violent extremists and mental health practitioners to help individuals leave hate and violence frameworks and to set and manage their goals to restore their lives.
“The work and message of Life After Hate has never been more valuable and more needed. A daily diet of media-infused disinformation touted by self-absorbed politicians spewing far-right rhetoric has led to more and more Americans turning to violence and hate groups. The success of Life After Hate’s outreach, research, and interventions shows that we can overcome this hate and have people reconnect with humanity and lead compassionate lives.” said Neal Rosenstein, President of The Puffin Foundation
ALBA Statement on Invasion of Ukraine
The ALBA Board of Governors issued the following statement regarding the horrific events unfolding in Ukraine:
The Abraham Lincoln Brigade Archives (ALBA) condemns the invasion of Ukraine by Russian military forces. The resulting destruction, chaos, and loss of life is the sole responsibility of President Vladimir Putin, who has perverted the concept of anti-fascism to justify imperialism and these despicable violations of human rights. ALBA stands in complete solidarity with the Ukrainian people as they suffer these unprovoked and unjustified attacks.