Watch: When the ACLU defended the rights of Nazi Americans to march in a Jewish neighborhood
The case lost the organization 30,000 members
In 1978, the ACLU took on a controversial case, defending the neo-Nazis who wanted to march in the Chicago suburb of Skokie, home to a large Jewish population, many of whom were Holocaust survivors. For millions of Americans, the case tested the limits of freedom of speech, but for the ACLU, the principle is worth defending no matter how offensive the speech.
This article is part of our White Terror U.S.A. collection, covering the shameful history of white supremacy in America.
History shapes the world around us — from national elections to cultural debates to marches in cities across the country. At Timeline, we spread knowledge of the past to help shape a better future. If you want to do the same, please share this and other Timeline stories and join us on Facebook and Twitter.
