Tensions of the time were reflected in the Sacco and Vanzetti trial of 1921, which was a watershed point in American history. Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti, two Italian immigrants, were arrested in Massachusetts and accused with murder and robbery. Red Scare anti-immigrant emotions and worries of radicalism obscured the trial’s many flaws.

Many people believed that Sacco and Vanzetti’s conviction had more to do with their anarchist ideals and their position as immigrants than with the facts presented at trial, and the trial became a symbol of injustice. In spite of widespread outcry and pleas for mercy, the two were put to death in 1927.

Discussions regarding class struggle, worker rights, and fair trial rights were sparked by the case. A sobering reminder of the perils of unrestrained fear and discrimination, the Sacco and Vanzetti trial brought to light concerns of prejudice and political bias within the court system. Writing about this trial for a book would be a great way to learn about the nuances of justice, the weight of public opinion, and the everlasting value of fighting for equality and fairness.