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b8344aa89823bc0e37c6eae80c5702c5
PDF Text
Text
Nazi unit wins go-ahead;
Skokie march bans voided
By Dennis D. Fisher
A federal judge ruled three Skokie ordinances unconstitutional Thursday, clearing
the way for neo-Nazis to hold a public demonstration in the suburb wearing military-type
uniforms with swastikas.
U.S. District Court Judge Bernard M. Decker said in a 55-page opinion that “it is better
to allow those who preach racial hate to expend their venom in rhetoric rather than to
be panicked into embarking on a dangerous
course of permitting the government to decide what its citizens may say and hear.”
A National Socialists Party of America
spokesman said a new march in Skokie has
been tentatively scheduled for April 20. which
would have been Adolf Hitler’s 89th birthday.
Decker made a lucid, scholarly review and
analysis of all the decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court before voiding the Skokie laws.
He said the ordinances could not stand because of the First Amendment guarantee of
freedom of speech and public assembly and
the Fourteenth Amendment guarantee o f
equal protection of the laws for all persons.
The ordinances were hastily enacted by the
village board May 2 after Frank Collin and
his neo-Nazi followers were prevented by a
Circuit Court order from holding a demonstration in Skokie the previous day.
Of the village’s 70,000 residents, about 40,500 are Jewish and some are survivors of
World War II Nazi concentration camps.
One ordinance required that demonstrators
have a village permit and obtain public-liability and property-damage insurance.
Another ordinance barred the distribution
of racial and religious hate material. A third
ordinance prevented persons wearing military-style uniforms and symbols like the
swastika from demonstrating in Skokie.
The ordinances provided criminal penalties
for violation.
Skokie Mayor Albert J. Smith said at a
press conference in the village hall Thursday:
“Another step in the legal process has been
taken. However, it is far from the final step
as far as the Village of Skokie is concerned.
We strongly disagree with today’s decision,
We are morally, ethically and legally bound to
take every recourse at our disposal to have
Judge Decker’s decision reversed. We will appeal.”
Asked if he anticipated violence if the neoNazis did march in Skokie, the mayor said:
“Violence begets violence begets violence
begets violence.”
But he added: “Our police force would he
obligated to uphold the law.”
When Collin tried to obtain a permit for a
planned July 4 march in the suburb, village
officials refused to issue it.
Collin, with the assistance of the American
Civil Liberties Union, filed suit in federal
court seeking to void the ordinances and to
prevent their enforcement by court order.
Decker granted what the ACLU sought.
David Goldberger, an ACLU attorney, said
he was relieved by Decker’s opinion. “The
First Amendment has not been damaged as
the result of a highly emotional case,” he
said.
The ordinances were found to be void because Decker said they were ambiguous,
vague and overbroad and provided no avenue of appeal for the denial of a permit.
Decker also held that the ordinances impinged directly and indirectly on the fundamental right of free speech and open debate
on all issues.
The Village of Skokie had argued that the
type of speech Collin and his followers would
use in a demonstration was like “shouting
fire in a crowded theater.” This is not protected by the First Amendment, Skokie officials noted.
On the insurance requirement for the permit, Decker noted that it would cost $1,000 for
the premium, which he said was “beyond the
reach of plaintiffs.”
He concluded on the insurance question that
the ordinances imposed a “drastic restriction” on the right of free speech “in the guise
of a regulation.”
The judge said the Skokie ordinance barring racial slurs in public demonstrations
“punishes language which intentionally incites hatred.” He said the standard involved
is too subjective under recent Supreme Court
decisions.
“A society which values ‘uninhibited, robust and wide-open’ debate cannot permit
criminal sanctions to turn upon so fine a distinction,” said Decker.
He also said the Skokie ordinance punishes
the mere dissemination of material that incites hatred, including such passive activity
as leafleting or wearing symbolic clothing.
“The requirement that speech poses an imminent danger of violence before it may be
suppressed is relaxed to a great extent when
the speech serves no useful social purpose,
but (the ordinance) seeks to dispense with the
requirement entirely, and this it may not do,”
the judge said.
“In resolving this case in favor of the plaintiffs, the court is acutely aware of the very
grave dangers posed by public dissemination
of doctrines of racial and religious hatred,”
Decker observed, adding: “In this case, a
small group of zealots, openly professing to
be followers of Nazism, have succeeded in
exacerbating the emotions of a large segment
Of the citizens of the Village of Skokie who
are bitterly opposed to their views and revolted by the prospect of their public appearance.
“When feelings and tensions are at their
highest peak, it is a temptation to reach for
the exception to the rule announced by Mr.
Justice Holmes: ‘If there is any principle of
the Constitution that more imperatively calls
for attachment than any other it is. the principle of free thought - not free thought for
those who agree with us but freedom for the
thought that we hate.’
“The ability of American society to tolerate
the advocacy even of the hateful doctrines
espoused by the plaintiffs without abandoning
its commitment to freedom of speech and assembly is perhaps the best protection we
have against the establishment of any Nazitype regime in this country,” Decker wrote.
The original Circuit Court order banning
the May 1 march was appealed to the Illinois
Appellate Court, which ruled in July that the
march could take place but that swastikas
could not be worn.
The swastika ban was then appealed to the
lllinois Supreme Court, which ruled the ban
unconstitutional Jan. 27.
On the same day, the Illinois Supreme
Court dismissed an injunction to prevent the
march obtained in Circuit Court on behalf of
Sol Goldstein as a class representative of survivors of the holocaust residing in Skokie.
The U.S. Supreme Court had entered the
dispute on a purely procedural question June
14, when it instructed the state to move rapidly in ruling on the validity of the injunction or
to lift the iniunction pending such a ruling.
The following statement was issued Thursday by Raymond Epstein, chairman of the
public affairs committee of the Chicago Jewish Fund:
“It would be a monstrous travesty for the
courts of thi s land to rule that an obscene
spectacle should be held under the guise of
our First Amendment freedoms, which we,
the Jewish community of Chicago, hold equally dear.
“The Jewish community of Chicago hopes
that the Village of Skokie will continue its
efforts to overturn the decision of the U.S.
District Court that would enable the Nazis to
deliberately provoke the citizens of Skokie
and the many others who would be grievously
offended by the march.
“However, should all legal means fail, the
Jewish community would co-operate fully
with the Village of Skokie and peoples of
other faiths in framing a nonviolent response
more in keeping with what our founding fathers had in mind when they drafted the Bill
of Rights.”
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Attempted Nazi March in Skokie, 1977 and 1978, Digital Collection
Description
An account of the resource
<p>During the late 1970s, a small group of neo-Nazis based in Chicago attempted to hold a rally in the Village of Skokie, Illinois, a community that was known to have a large Jewish population. Local officials resisted the group’s efforts through by passing a series of ordinances aimed at preventing demonstrations or parades by hate groups. The ordinances were ultimately overturned following a series of state and federal lawsuits because they infringed on the group’s First Amendment rights and the neo-Nazis were issued a permit to demonstrate in Skokie. However, instead of facing the growing number of organized counter-demonstrators, the group held rallies in Federal Plaza and in Marquette Park in Chicago. <br /><br />Visit <a title="Attempted Nazi March in Skokie" href="https://skokiehistory.omeka.net/exhibits/show/attempted-nazi-march/timeline">Skokie Public Library's online exhibit</a> to see the events as they unfolded. The library's digital collection, seen here, includes newspaper articles, editorials, recordings from the Skokie Village Board of Trustees meetings, a memoir written by a local clergywoman, and two documentary films.</p>
<p>For further information, you can find more resources in the library. If you have questions or comments send us an <a title="email Skokie Public Library" href="mailto:tellus@skokielibrary.info">email </a>or call us at 847-673-3733.</p>
Relation
A related resource
<h3><a title="Attempted Nazi March in Skokie" href="https://skokiehistory.omeka.net/exhibits/show/attempted-nazi-march/timeline">Attempted Nazi March in Skokie online exhibit</a></h3>
Subject
The topic of the resource
Skokie History
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Skokie Public Library
Text
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Nazi unit wins go-ahead- Skokie march bans voided
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Fisher, Dennis D.
Abstract
A summary of the resource.
U.S. District Court Judge Bernard Decker rules Skokie ordinances unconstitutional, enabling National Socialist Party of America (Nazis) to march.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2/24/1978
Subject
The topic of the resource
Demonstrations -- Illinois -- Skokie
National Socialist Party of America
Epstein, Raymond
Smith, Albert J., 1915-1993
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Chicago Sun-Times, Friday, February 24, 1978, Sun-Times Co., Chicago, IL
Rights Holder
A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource.
©Sun-Times Co., Chicago, IL
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
In Copyright http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
cst780224a.pdf
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1970s (1970-1979)
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Skokie Public Library, Reference Department
newspaper clippings
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https://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/25609/archive/files/f0cb26d47531eec4c73097d16e3f52e9.pdf?Expires=1712793600&Signature=IrKqwjz9jFWTjbXqoUhZfBQzqUjVCaLKaQ30t4fgD2VUkpvV%7E7eQ-bef3QJZsrOaC8ZzJz8Ccws%7EEt6bB83gshm1nqjKGLUk4aa%7EYQBxDEF14B8H-4KRDKPQsE6IrlNJZfnc9a6mAoQccyYkfhNLsCLn20kLRWxqyzCEwBIckSZHDvyxZZ41RYlwrxYUumPc71h8P6WsL-iEV1rhmLucqN6yge3Ri%7EHJees6H6sjSUA2tnGQ-BvIo7fWodHyVnqQRa4nNB2Tn52AobfYOCKsNRZo7cwcGYJCvrOPcb5b6yJt%7E1WNDLzKHYCg5bLPf2GpTizzb2eiZY2ITndYcMZ5hQ__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZM
c4500f36d687aa78731a7722eb6a884d
PDF Text
Text
FROM:
THE JEWISH UNITED FUND OF METROPOLITAN CHICAGO
One South Franklin Street - 60606 - 346-6700
Harold B. Rosen, Director of Public Relations
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Zan Skolnick
EXTENSION:
Raymond Epstein, Chairman of the P u b l i c Affairs Committee (PAC)
of the Jewish United Fund today (Feb. 23) responded with disappointment to
a U.S. District Court r u l i n g that would allow a Nazi march in Skokie, a suburb
with a large population of Jews, many of them survivors of the Holocaust.
Epstein, who heads the coalition of Chicago's 3^ major Jewish groups,
said that he hoped the V i l l a g e of Skokie -- and others seeking legal remedies
to halt the proposed march by the National Socialist Party of America -- would
"pursue every legal means to block this perversion of the rights of free speech."
Skokie resident and Holocaust survivor Sol Goldstein, who has
initiated a private suit against the Nazis, affirmed Epstein's point of view,
saying:
"The Village of Skokie should do everything in its power to protect
the safety and welfare of its residents."
Epstein said: "It would be a monstrous travesty for the courts
of this land to rule that an obscene spectacle should be held under the guise
of our First Amendment freedoms, which we, of the Jewish community, hold
especially dear.
"The Jewish community of Chicago hopes that the V i l l a g e of Skokie
w i l l continue its efforts to overturn the decision of the U.S. District Court
that would enable the Nazis to deliberately provoke the citizens of Skokie
and the many others who would be grievously offended by the march.
"However, should all legal means f a i l , the Jewish community w i l l
cooperate fully with the V i l l a g e of Skokie and peoples of other faiths in
framing a non-violent response more in keeping with what our founding fathers
had in mind when they drafted the B i l l of Rights," said Epstein.
-over-
�JEWISH UNITED FUND OF METROPOLITAN CHICAGO
-2-
Goldstein said he welcomed the expression of solidarity made
yesterday by Governor James R. Thompson.
"His interest and concern is one
of many important indications that this march has become an issue for all
Americans.
We shall certainly call upon the Governor's good offices in
framing our response to the march in the event of that unfortunate necessity."
Goldstein, who heads a PAC Committee on I n d i v i d u a l Liberty and
Jewish Security, had received a letter from Governor Thompson earlier In the
week, expressing the Governor's feelings that "... survivors of the Holocaust ...
and m i l l i o n s of Jews the world over ... should not be subjected to such a
disgusting display as that march."
Referring to mounting offers of support from non-Jewish groups,
Goldstein said: "There are many people in this country who remember that
in addition to the 6 m i l l i o n Jews slaughtered during the Holocaust, 5 m i l l i o n
Christian c i v i l i a n s were exterminated and 190,000 American soldiers lost
their lives fighting the Nazi war machine."
Today's U.S. District Court ruling declared "unconstitutional" three
Skokie ordinances that would (1) ban the wearing of military-style uniforms
repugnant to the residents of Skokie, (2) require parade sponsors to post a
$350,000
bond if more than 50 spectators or participants are expected, and
(3) ban dissemination of material that could incite hatred of a race or religion.
Goldstein's suit seeks a permanent injunction against the Nazi
march on the grounds that it would cause "severe emotional and physical stress"
among the estimated 7,000 Jewish Holocaust survivors l i v i n g in Skokie.
The
suit was rejected by the I l l i n o i s Supreme Court without a hearing, but a second
motion for a hearing w i l l be filed tomorrow (Feb. 24), Goldstein said.
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Attempted Nazi March in Skokie, 1977 and 1978, Digital Collection
Description
An account of the resource
<p>During the late 1970s, a small group of neo-Nazis based in Chicago attempted to hold a rally in the Village of Skokie, Illinois, a community that was known to have a large Jewish population. Local officials resisted the group’s efforts through by passing a series of ordinances aimed at preventing demonstrations or parades by hate groups. The ordinances were ultimately overturned following a series of state and federal lawsuits because they infringed on the group’s First Amendment rights and the neo-Nazis were issued a permit to demonstrate in Skokie. However, instead of facing the growing number of organized counter-demonstrators, the group held rallies in Federal Plaza and in Marquette Park in Chicago. <br /><br />Visit <a title="Attempted Nazi March in Skokie" href="https://skokiehistory.omeka.net/exhibits/show/attempted-nazi-march/timeline">Skokie Public Library's online exhibit</a> to see the events as they unfolded. The library's digital collection, seen here, includes newspaper articles, editorials, recordings from the Skokie Village Board of Trustees meetings, a memoir written by a local clergywoman, and two documentary films.</p>
<p>For further information, you can find more resources in the library. If you have questions or comments send us an <a title="email Skokie Public Library" href="mailto:tellus@skokielibrary.info">email </a>or call us at 847-673-3733.</p>
Relation
A related resource
<h3><a title="Attempted Nazi March in Skokie" href="https://skokiehistory.omeka.net/exhibits/show/attempted-nazi-march/timeline">Attempted Nazi March in Skokie online exhibit</a></h3>
Subject
The topic of the resource
Skokie History
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Skokie Public Library
Text
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Press Release from the Jewish United Fund, February 23, 1978
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Jewish United Fund
Abstract
A summary of the resource.
Press release from the Jewish United Fund, dated February 23, 1978, announcing that Raymond Epstein, Chairman of the Public Affairs Committee of the Jewish United Fund "responded with disappointment to a U.S. District Court ruling that would allow a Nazi [National Socialist Party of America] march in Skokie." The press release is from Harold B. Rosen, Director of Public Relations and the Contact person listed is Zan Skolnick.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2/23/1978
Subject
The topic of the resource
Demonstrations -- Illinois -- Skokie
Holocaust survivors
National Socialist Party of America -- Trials, litigation, etc.
Epstein, Raymond
Goldstein, Sol
Rosen, Harold B.
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
In Copyright http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
rnb_780223c.pdf
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1970s (1970-1979)
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Original item from the collection of Rabbi Neil Brief
from Rabbi Neil Brief Collection