The Senate today inserted a broad new anti-bombing amendment into the Civil Rights bill to protect synagogues and other institutions. The measure was adopted by a vote of 87 to 0.
The amendment prohibits the transportation, or aiding in transportation, in interstate commerce, of any explosive with knowledge or intent that it will be used against any building or other property in an effort to interfere with its use for religious, educational, charitable, residential, business, or civil purposes.
A penalty of death or life imprisonment could be imposed in event that a bombing results in fatal injury. If a physical injury is caused, guilty persons could be Jailed for 10 years and fined up to $10, 000. Property damage alone could be punished by one year’s imprisonment and $10, 000 fine.
A $1, 000 fine and a year’s prison sentence were provided for conviction of phoning or mailing threats to bomb synagogues, schools, or similar buildings. This measure was added to the original bill which would make it a Federal crime to flee across a state line to avoid prosecution in a bombing case.
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.
