Virginia’s Equating Rockwell with B’nai B’rith Evokes Protest

A statement from the Virginia State Corporation Commission, defending the issuance of a charter to the American Nazi party and equating Rockwell’s Nazi movement with the B’nai B’rith, was challenged today by the Jewish War Veterans of the U.S.A.

National executive director Joseph F. Barr of the JWV wrote today to Governor J. Lindsay Almond, Jr., of Virginia, to protest the comparison by the State Commission of B’nai B’rith–devoted to the betterment of men, irrespective of race, color or creed–with a group professing and propagating Nazi ideals.

Ralph T. Catterall, Commissioner of the State body, had written Mr. Barr, indicating that nazism was considered legal in Virginia and asking; “What would you say if B’nai B’rith applied for a charter and we turned it down until evidence was presented that none of the incorporators entertained any opinions that we did not agree with?”

Mr. Barr, in his letter today to Gov. Almond, termed Mr. Catterall’s expressions “an insult to anyone’s intelligence.” He explained that he was writing the Governor personally because the issue was one “for the Chief Executive of the State to decide and not for Caterall, who apparently does not appreciate what the term ‘public policy’ means.” He emphasized that Virginia’s defense of nazism as “legal” was a desecration of the graves of the thousands of soldiers who lie buried in Arlington National Cemetery near Rockwell’s Nazi headquarters.