Last week, David Horowitz, a conservative writer and activist died of cancer. He was 86.
Horowitz was not always a conservative. In fact, he was a red diaper baby (the child of communists). His parents were members of the Communist Party of the United States of America. Thus, Horowitz became a figure among the left. His left-wing activism included establishing the Vietnam Solidarity Campaign (which
organized protests against the Vietnam War) and producing several written works, including The Free World Colossus: A Critique of American Foreign Policy in the Cold War.
Horowitz particularly took interest in civil rights, even to the point where he became involved with the Black Panthers. However, it wasn’t long before he realized how extreme they were, given their involvement in drug trafficking, prostitution, and other crimes. Nevertheless, when the Black Panthers told Horowitz they needed an accountant, Horowitz recommended a friend named Betty Van Patter. Sometime later, Van Patter’s severely beaten body was found in San Francisco Bay.
It is highly likely the Black Panthers were responsible for her death. This was due to Van Patter knowing too much (i.e. the group’s dirty secrets). Horowitz was deeply depressed over her murder. Meanwhile, the Black Panthers were afraid that Horowitz might reveal their activities to the authorities, as well as Van
Patter’s death.
The Black Panthers had also shot another friend of Horowitz’s, leaving her paralyzed. She later committed suicide. Both of these incidents resulted in Horowitz becoming a conservative. The process was a slow period, but eventually Horowitz rejected all the teachings of the left. During the 1980s, he became a
staunch anti-Communist.
In 1988, Horowitz and another conservative activist named Peter Collier founded the Center for the Study of Popular Culture (later renamed the David Horowitz Freedom Center), an organization devoted to the defense of free societies whose moral, cultural, and economic foundations are under attack by both secular and
religious enemies, whether they be at home or abroad.
In 1992, Horowitz and Collier founded the group Heterodoxy, a monthly magazine dedicated to revealing excessive political correctness among college campuses throughout the United States.
In 2005, Horowitz came up with the Discover the Networks website, which is a list of profiles for various leftist individuals and groups.
Horowitz also came up with the Academic Bill of Rights, with the goal of eliminating political bias for hiring and grading at colleges and universities. He also established FrontPage Magazine, a conservative journal consisting of new articles and political commentary.
Needless to say, Horowitz has been a leading figure in the conservative movement.
He will be missed.
