Civil Liberties and Nazis: The Skokie Free-Speech Controversy

Civil Liberties and Nazis: The Skokie Free-Speech Controversy
ISBN-10
027590105X
ISBN-13
9780275901059
Category
Political Science
Language
English
Published
1985-03-15
Publisher
Praeger
Authors
Richard D. Bingham, James L. Gibson

Description

Examines the conditions under which a political majority will extend rights of assembly and free speech to a political minority such as the National Socialist Party of America, led by Frank Collin. The party, a splinter group with only 20-30 members, tried to hold a demonstration in 1977 in Skokie, Illinois, where over half the population is Jewish. Analyzes results of a survey of members of the American Civil Liberties Union and Common Cause, considered as "elite" groups having political power and influence, which supported the Nazis' right to demonstrate. Examines the phenomenon of elite vs. mass tolerance and the relationship between alleged political tolerance and actual behavior. About 15% of ACLU members cancelled their membership in protest.

Similar books