Because they “fomented a boycott and an assault against the Jews” and because they came into court with “unclean hands,” Vice Chancellor John Bigelow, in a decision handed down in Jersey City today, denied the Hudson County branch of the League of the Friends of New Germany an injunction against interference with their meetings by police and other officials.
“The defendant further presents affidavits which are uncontradicted,” the decision said in part, “and which disclose that at previous meetings held by the complainant speeches were made and hand bills distributed urging the boycott of Jewish merchants and professional men of Union City, and even attacks on the places of Jews.”
In denying preliminary injunctions against a ban placed on activities of the “Friends” by Mayor Louis B. Eastmead of Union City and his subordinates, Vice Chancellor Bigelow replied to the organization’s counsel, who demanded the rights of free speech and of free meeting for his client, by pointing out that these Constitutional guarantees apply only to individual persons, and not to corporations.
The matter originally came into the Court of Chancery in Jersey City after Union City policemen had broken up a meeting of the “Friends,” threatened similar action if they should try to meet in Union City in the future. The Nazi organization subsequently demanded the injunction.
The highlight of the proceedings was the appearance for the
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
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.
