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Civil Liberties Union Challenges State Laws on Group Libel

September 19, 1951
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The American Civil Liberties Union has asked the United States Supreme Court to review the constitutionality of state “race” or “group” libel laws. In a petition to the court, it has asked for review of the conviction of Joseph Beuharnais, president of the White Circle League of America, on charges of violating an Illinois law barring race libels.

The Union declared that while it opposed Beuharnais’ views, it championed his right to them and questioned the legality of the Illinois law as contravening the First and Fourteenth Amendments by restricting free speech, press and assembly.

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