Jewish Groups Picket German Consulates in Major U.S. Cities

The German Consulate here was picketed today by members of 29 Jewish organizations protesting the West German government’s refusal to extend the country’s Statute of Limitations so that war criminals can be placed on trial whenever they are uncovered. By a police order the pickets were limited to 45. They were also voicing their condemnation of the West German government’s “disregard” of appeals to recall West German scientists now working on the development of missiles for Egypt, which the Arabs have announced they plan to use “ultimately in a war of destruction against Israel.”

The picketing in New York was part of a national program of picketing of German consulates throughout the country following a policy adopted by the 18 national Jewish organizations comprising the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations. Picketers and protesting delegations appeared before German consulate addresses in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle and the Embassy in Washington.

The picketers carried placards stating, “No Statute of Limitations for Mass Murder,” “Mass Murderers Must Not Go Free in Germany After May 8th,” “All Nazi Murders Must Be Brought to Justice,” “Let No Nazi Murderer Escape Justice,” “Mr. Erhard, Remove German Scientists From Egypt,” “German Scientists Working for Nasser Threat to World Peace,” and “Prevent German Scientists in Cairo From Continuing Hitler’s Work.”

Representatives from the following national Jewish organizations were among the picketers: Americans for Progressive Israel (Hashomer Hatzair), American Israel Public Affairs Committee, American Jewish Congress, American Zionist Council, American Trade Union Council for Histadrut, B’nai B’rith. B’nai Zion, Brooklyn Jewish Community Center, Farband-Labor Zionist Order. Hadassah, Jewish Agency for Israel. American Section, Jewish Labor Committee.

Also the Jewish Nazi Victims Organization of America, Jewish War Veterans of the U. S. A., Labor Zionist Movement, Mizrachi-Hapoel Hamizrachi, National Community Relations Advisory Council, National Council of Jewish Women, National Council of Young Israel, Pioneer Women, Rabbinical Assembly, Shearit Hapleita, Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, Union of American Hebrew Congregations, United Labor Zionists Achdut Avodah, United Synagogue of America, Zionist Organization of America, and Zionist – Revisionists of America.