1939 Nazi rally at Madison Square Garden
| Date | February 20, 1939 |
|---|---|
| Venue | Madison Square Garden |
| Location | New York City, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 40°45′44″N 73°59′14″W / 40.76222°N 73.98722°W |
| Type | Nazi rally |
| Theme | |
| Organised by | German American Bund |
| Participants | More than 20,000 |
| Arrests | 13 |
On February 20, 1939, a Nazi rally took place at Madison Square Garden, organized by the German American Bund. More than 20,000 people attended, and Fritz Julius Kuhn was a featured speaker. The Bund billed the event, which took place two days before George Washington's Birthday, as a pro-"Americanism" rally; the stage at the event featured a huge portrait of George Washington with swastikas on each side. Anti-Nazi counter-protesters gathered outside and on three occasions attempted to break through lines of police officers guarding the rally.
The power of the Bund rapidly declined after the rally. This was not due to the outbreak of World War II, but due to Kuhn being imprisoned for embezzlement by the end of the year and his successors being prosecuted for espionage.