A bill making it a crime to defame religious or ethnic groups in New York State was approved by the State Senate yesterday and sent to the Assembly for action.
The bill, approved 39 to 10, bans the “uttering,” “publishing” or “encouraging” of “false and defamatory matter, portraying any depravity, criminality or unchastity of any race, color, creed or religion” with the intent to hold such groups up to “contempt, derision, obloquy.” The measure also bars defamation “productive of a breach of peace or riots.” A similar measure was approved by the State Senate last year but was defeated in the Assembly.
Sen. Jeremiah B. Bloom, Brooklyn Democrat, said the measure was introduced at the urging of the Jewish War Veterans to prevent riots incited by bigots speaking in public. The New York Civil Liberties Union submitted a memorandum opposing the measure on grounds it would “violate the First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and the press as well as the due process guarantee of the 14th Amendment” The bill would provide maximum penalties of a $1,000 fine, one year in jail or both. Sen. Bloom denounced the Civil Liberties memorandum.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
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.
