An Appeal to the American Jewish Congress Convention

Description:

Translated Summary: A JPFO appeal of its expulsion from the American Jewish Congress that resulted from the IWO/JPFO's placement on Attorney General Tom Clark's "Red List." General Secretary Rubin Saltzman argues that the Congress is becoming less democratic and representative and engaging in red-baiting despite growing anti-Semitism. Items of interest include the following text "In America we find the forces of anti-Semitism and fascism becoming more aggressive in their onslaught on democracy. In Peekskill, in our own New York state, rockthrowing fascists assaulted and insulted Negroes and Jews, and shouted "Kill the Jews.” In New York City, the seat of the AJC convention, a Jew was murdered in a synagogue. Gerald L. K. Smith boasts of the support that his "American Christian Crusade” is getting in the United States Congress. The unspeakable Rankin introduces legislation to outlaw the anti-Defamation League. In defiance of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, leaders of a minority party—the Communist party—are jailed for their thoughts...Jewish unity is needed not tomorrow—but today. Congress cannot afford to split off from its ranks the JPFO, an organization of 55,000 Jewish men and women, constructively contributing to Jewish life in communities throughout the country." The text has been marked up with a red pencil as well as a black pencil. The terms "witch-hunt" and "red-baiting" are used.

Date:

1949-11-04

Copyright:

The copyright status and copyright owners of most of the images in the International Workers Order (IWO) Records Collection (Kheel Center #5276) are unknown. This material was digitized from physical holdings by Cornell University Library in 2016, with funding from an Arts and Sciences Grant to Jonathan Boyarin. Documents include language and representations which comprise the historical record and should not be interpreted to mean that Cornell University or its staff endorse or approve of negative representations or stereotypes presented. Cornell is providing access to the materials as a digital aggregate under an assertion of fair use for non-commercial educational use. The written permission of any copyright and other rights holders is required for distribution, reproduction, or other use that extends beyond what is authorized by fair use and other statutory exemptions. Responsibility for making an independent legal assessment of an item and securing any necessary permissions ultimately rests with persons desiring to use the item. Cornell would like to learn more about items in the collection and to hear from individuals or institutions that have any additional information as to rights holders. Please contact the Kheel Center at kheel_center@cornell.edu

Creator:

Zaltsman, R. (Reʾuven) (Rubin Saltzman, Reuben Zaltzman)

File Name:

5276b53f01_29

Identifier:

International Workers Order (IWO) Records #5276, Box 53, Folder 1

Repository:

Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Martin P. Catherwood Library, Cornell University