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Congress May Be Asked for Law Against Vandalism in Synagogues

December 7, 1951
See Original Daily Bulletin From This Date
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Rep. Louis S. Heller, of New York, today notified Attorney General J. Howard McGrath that unless Federal action is taken in connection with the bombing of a synagogue in the Miami area, he will introduce a bill as soon as the next session of Congress convenes to provide the most severe penalties for vandalism against places of religious worship.

Rep. Heller was the author of the “Bill against Desecration” which was passed by the State of New York while he was a State Senator during World War II. At that time a wave of desecration in New York was terminated when the penalties for such vandalism was increased by the Heller Bill.

The Civil Rights Section of the Department of Justice has not yet made any recommendation on its investigation of whether or not to call on the F. B.I. in the bombing of a synagogue in the Miami area, it was learned today. It is expected, however, that action will be taken by the end of the week.

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