The Police Department today was making arrangements to ensure order at an anti-Semitic demonstration labelled as an “anti Communist parade in behalf of Social Justice” repudiated by “radio priest” Charles E. Coughlin and protested against by various liberal organizations, which will be held by the Christian Front from Columbus Circle to Union Square on Saturday.
The Jewish Labor Committee today sent out an appeal to all affiliated organizations asking that Jews stay away from the scene of Saturday’s parade and entirely ignore the demonstration in order to avoid provocation. The appeal was signed by Adolph Held, chairman and other officers of the committee.
The American Jewish Alliance will sponsor a demonstration at noon hour tomorrow at City Hall in protest against the parade. The alliance plans afterward to send a delegation to the World’s Fair City Hall in an effort to see Mayor La Guardia and protest to him personally.
At the office of the Police Department Chief Inspector it was stated today that the Christian Front situation had been the subject of several recent conferences of police officials. The application for the parade has been approved, it was said, but the permit remains to be signed by Acting Police Commissioner John S. Seery.
“Police arrangements have not yet been completed,” it was stated. “First there will be an investigation to see about how big the parade will be and how many police will be needed. But you can be sure there will be no trouble because sufficient police will be on hand.”
The Socialist Workers Party affiliated with the Fourth International is planning to hold a counter rally in the form of an “anti Fascist” meeting in Union Square on Saturday. Large numbers of posters have been put up in various parts of the city calling on New Yorkers to join the demonstration. A “March for Democracy” has been announced by the New York City Division of the American League for Peace and Democracy for the following Saturday, from Madison Square to Columbus Circle.
Fearing that violence might result from the meeting of two antagonistic organizations at Union Square the American Civil Liberties Union has written to Police Commissioner Lewis Valentine, who is now on vacation, asking him to take steps to forestall any conflict, but opposing any restriction on the right of either group to demonstrate peacefully. No reply to the letter had been received today.
Coughlin himself has repudiated the parade organized by his followers. In a statement issued through Bernard T. D’Arcy, New York representative of Social Justice magazine, the Detroit “radio priest” said he had forbidden promoters of the parade to use his name and that Social Justice had done likewise.
“Neither I, nor Social Justice, of which I am editorial counsel, approve of this parade,” Father Coughlin said. “In fact, we heartily disapprove of it. In the interests of law and order I ask all true followers of social justice to absent themselves from this public demonstration.”
Nevertheless, a leaflet issued by promoters of the parade attempted to give the impression it was backed by Coughlin by stating “Read the suppressed truth in Father Coughlin s Social Justice Magazine” The leaflet bearing the name of “Parade Commander Lawrence J. Gilpatrick” said the demonstration was a “manifestation of Christianity” and was “sponsored by all Christian factions.” Some of the leaflets bore the rubber stamped signature “German American Bund.”
A 42 year old woman Miss Florence Nash, who made a public attack on Jews, received a 30 day suspended sentence in Tombs Court yesterday. Magistrate Michael A Ford found her guilty of disorderly conduct and said. “He who instills such ideas in your head be he a priest or anyone else does not belong in this country” In the Bronx police guarding a street corner meeting of the Christian Mobilizers last night arrested Joseph Hartery 41 when he began denouncing Jews from the ladder platform. About 1000 persons attended the meeting.
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.
