In the late 1970s, Skokie, a Chicago suburb, was home to many Jewish Holocaust survivors. Their hope for a peaceful life was threatened when a neo-Nazi group announced plans for a parade in 1977. Philippa Strum's retelling of these events reveals the intense controversy surrounding the case and its implications for First Amendment rights. The clash was stark: American Nazis asserted their free speech rights, while the Jewish community sought to live without intimidation. Skokie officials argued that the march would provoke violence and secured a court injunction against it. In response, the ACLU defended the Nazis' right to free speech, leading to a complex legal battle. Strum details the perspectives of key figures: Frank Collin, leader of the National Socialist Party and son of a Jewish survivor; Sol Goldstein, a Holocaust survivor organizing a counter-protest; Skokie mayor Albert Smith, focused on community safety; and ACLU attorney David Goldberger, a Jewish man defending the Nazis. Although the ACLU won, it faced backlash, losing 30,000 members, and the Nazis ultimately never marched. Strum's compelling narrative underscores the necessity of defending free speech, even for those deemed objectionable, and prompts reflection on the constitutional and moral dimensions of free speech, particularly in today's debates over hate speech on college campuses.
