Civil Liberties and Nazis: The Skokie Free-speech ControversyExamines 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. |
Contents
Table 1 | 1 |
Political Tolerance of the American Public | 13 |
Limitations of the Elitist Theory of Democracy | 16 |
Copyright | |
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Civil Liberties and Nazis: The Skokie Free-Speech Controversy James L. Gibson,Richard D. Bingham No preview available - 1985 |
Common terms and phrases
abstract ACLU leaders ACLU members action activity allowed Amendment American analysis application assembly associated attitudes behavior beliefs citizens civil liberties Collin Common Cause members communists consensus considered constitutional constraint context controversy Court defection defend democracy democratic demonstration deny effect elite engage exists expected factor favor figures findings freedom of speech groups hold ideas important indicators individuals instance intolerant involvement issue Jews joined least less levels libertarian majority means measures membership minority Nazis noted officials opinion oppose opposition ordinances organization parade particular Party percent permit person political tolerance position possible predicted present probably problem prohibit protected question reactions reason relationship religious reports represent responses sample scale similar Skokie social speak specific Stouffer strong strongly subjects substantial suggests survey Table theory types United values variables views Village violence