An appeal for unity in combating anti-Semitism and Fascism was voiced today at the first national convention of the Jewish people’s Committee against Fascism and Anti-Semitism, held at Mecca Temple with some 1,000 delegates and hundreds of visitors attending.
A “Manifesto on the Need for Jewish Unity ” was adopted appealing for the establishment of “an unshakable united front against Fascism, anti-Semitism and war.” Organizations were urged, regardless of politics, race and religion, to rise in defense of the Jews. Another resolution called for preparation of a bill for submission to Congress to outlaw discrimination against Jews and all other minority groups.
William Weiner, secretary of the committee, said: “There must be unity or there will be catastrophe. We appeal to the American Jewish Congress, the Jewish Labor Committee, the B’nai B’rith and other organizations to get together on only one point — not on politics, not on religious or any other beliefs, but on a common program of action against Fascism and anti-Semitism. That is our program and our platform of unity. We shall not rest until this unity is accomplished.”
Representative John M. Coffee of Washington, speaking last night, said the labor movement was the greatest bulwark against Fascism in America and Jewish employers could not be at once anti-union and anti-Fascist. Other speakers were city Councilman Michael J. Quill, Representative William I. Sirovich, Vito Marcantonio, Dr. Stefan Heym, editor of the German Volksecho, and Ben Gold, president of the international fur Workers’ Union.
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.
