Jewish students at the University of California who had planned a demonstration at an appearance of an American Nazi party spokesman were persuaded not to do so by Jewish community relations officials. As a result, Ralph Forber “western division commander” of the Nazis, was virtually laughed off the stage by an audience of 7, 000 students at the Berkley campus who refrained from booing or other disorder
At the end of 14 minutes of a scheduled 45-minute speech, the Nazi gave up and asked for written questions. He had been literally laughed out of making his presentation. University authorities had given careful consideration to permitting Forbes to speak at the university and decided that freedom of speech should be upheld even for a Nazi crackpot but that all preparations should be taken against violence of any kind.
When the plans of the Jewish students became known, a meeting of Jewish campus lead was called at the Hillel House at which representatives of the local Anti-Defamation League and of the San Francisco and Oakland Jewish Community Relations Councils spoke. A plan was devised for urging all Jewish students to avoid demonstrating in any way that would give the Nazi the publicity he craved.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
