Businessman: Civil Liberties “Best Defense Against ‘Isms’ ”
Jacob Blaustein, a Baltimore businessman and civic leader, received an award on this day from the Jewish War Veterans. In his acceptance speech, he declared, “Protection of civil liberties is America’s best defense against communism and fascism.”
He further advocated giving all Americans, regardless of race, creed or national origin, the right to take advantage of the opportunities in the U.S.
Learn more: Caroline Kennedy and Ellen Alderman, In Our Defense: The Bill of Rights in Action (1991)
Visit the ACLU website: https://www.aclu.org/
Read: Akhil Reed Amar, The Bill of Rights: Creation and Reconstruction (2000)
Read about the history of the ACLU: Samuel Walker, In Defense of American Liberties: A History of the ACLU (1990)