The Dissidents: Autocrats! Vigilantes! Communists! And Cartoonists!

Derf Backderf presents *The Dissidents: Autocrats! Vigilantes! Communists! And Cartoonists!*, a graphic novel about a turbulent chapter in American history. Set in 1916, the story explores racism, economic inequality, unionization, political repression, class conflict, private militias, and the struggle to defend free speech during the presidency of Woodrow Wilson.

The book follows real-life political cartoonists from *The Masses*, including Art Young, Boardman Robinson, and Cornelia Barns, alongside the fictional young German immigrant Joe Hertle. Their circle includes journalists Max Eastman and John Reed and radical activist Emma Goldman. As the cartoonists document a nation descending into violence and unrest, they face sedition charges, threatened prison sentences, exile, military incarceration, and possible execution. Backderf draws on his own experience as a journalist and former political cartoonist to connect this largely forgotten history with contemporary political tensions.

When: Thursday, September 10, 2026

Showtimes: 7:00 p.m.

Venue: Politics and Prose at Union Market, 1324 4th Street NE, Washington, DC 20002

Tickets: Free, with first-come, first-served seating.

Presenter: Derf Backderf, the bestselling and award-winning author of *My Friend Dahmer*, *Kent State*, and *Trashed*. He lives in Cleveland, Ohio.

Book: *The Dissidents: Autocrats! Vigilantes! Communists! And Cartoonists!* is available for preorder in hardcover for $29.99. Its publication date is September 15, 2026.

Accessibility: To request accommodations or ask accessibility questions, email events@politics-prose.com, ideally at least one week before the event. Requests made closer to the event will be accommodated when possible.