Approximately 1,000 persons today picketed the building of Station YMCA at 52nd Street and broadway in protest against the station’s action in barring father Charles E. Coughlin for refusing to submit script in advance. The pickets paraded Longer than an hour in two double-file lines, carrying a picture of father Coughlin and signs protesting against what they called violation of free speech. They also shouted such slogans as “Close up YMCA!” and “Down with communism!” One of the most prominently-heard chants was “United Christian nation!” and groups of persons were also heard shouting, “Down with the Jews!” and “Send Rabbi wise back to Russia!” The building and surrounding area were guarded by more than 100 policemen.
The only person who represented himself as a spokesman for the demonstrators was Allen Zoll, who had called for the picketing at a mass meeting on Thursday night. He told reporters the demonstration was “spontaneous” and sponsored by the American committee for American constitutional rights. He said it was not a catholic protest, but “an American protest against curtailment of free speech.” Asked about the anti-Semitic epithets heard in the crowd, he denied that the demonstration was anti-Jewish and added that he believed there were about a half dozen Jews among the demonstrators. He also said the committee would send a delegation to Washington to oppose renewal of WMCA’s license.
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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.
