Mounting protests against issuance of a permit to George Lincoln Rockwell’s American Nazi party for a July 4 rally were climaxed yesterday by a suit filed in State Supreme Court to prevent the city from giving the permit.
The suit was filed by The Public Awareness Committee, which obtained an order from Justice Vincent A, Lupiano directing Newbold Morris, the City Park Commissioner, to appear at 10 a. m. this Wednesday to explain why he should not be barred from issuing the permit.
The committee complained in its suit that the Nazi group aimed to overthrow the American system of Government and any rally would “lead to riot and bloodshed. The Mutual Radio network reported many listeners had called to protest an interview in which Rockwell said that the aim of his Nazi group was to “exterminate unfriendly Jews” and to “send Negroes back to Africa.”
Mr.Morris had originally indicated he felt he should issue the permit on grounds of free speech. As protests grew, his position shifted and a Parks Department spokesman said yesterday that the permit was “in a state of suspended animation. ” Mayor Wagner stepped into the growing dispute and discussed the problem with Mr. Morris yesterday.
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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.