June 27, 1977 Village Board of Trustees Meeting

Listen to excerpts from recordings of the Village of Skokie board meeting:

During the June 27, 1977 Skokie Village Board meeting, Mayor Albert J. Smith announces that “based on all the information that we have on hand at this particular time, we are convinced that the Nazis will not march in Skokie on July 4th."

An unidentified male speaker, possibly David Rosensweig, agrees with Trustee Morris Topol's request that people not come to the Village Hall on July 4. He also expresses concern that people will disregard that request.

Philip Jacks asks why the march will not happen on July 4. Mayor Smith says that he cannot give details, but expresses confidence that the neo-Nazi march will not occur.

Trustee Morris Topol asks the people of Skokie to heed Smith's words and reasserts his request that members of the community do not come to Village Hall on July 4.

Jack Deino responds to Trustee Topol's request that members of the community not come to the Village Hall on July 4. He reads a speech that strongly opposes the Supreme Court decision (Collin v. Smith).

Deino says that "we should not let them come and make believers [of their hate speech] of us, we should all forget about our holiday plans and stop them... we should all block the streets off with our cars and push them back and make believers of them..."

Jack Israel says that all of the people of Skokie should go out to demonstrate against the neo-Nazis.

Abraham Beck thanks mayor and the trustees. He says that the neo-Nazis are not only a threat to the Jews, but to every American, "every one who believes in the Bill of Rights, every one who believes that we have a right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."

Albert Baker takes issue with the statement that "the good people of Skokie may provoke a problem." He says, "If there's [sic] no Nazis, the good people of Skokie will not provoke a problem. If the Nazis do in fact march or gain access to this area then the good people of Skokie may in fact create a problem..."

Trustee Morris Topol responds, by reasserting that it would be best for all concerned that citizens "[proceed] about their regular business" on July 4 instead of coming out for a counter-demonstration.

Ruth Schaffner wants "a strong confirmation [from the Trustees] there will not be a single Nazi in our vicinity on July 4th." Jack Israel (in the background) re-states that he does not want the Nazis to come to Skokie.