Title: Holocaust Survivor Ben Stern Fought Against Nazis’ Right to Rally in Skokie
In 1977, the small suburb of Skokie, Illinois, found itself at the center of a First Amendment battle when a group of Nazis planned to stage a rally in the predominantly Jewish town. Ben Stern, a Holocaust survivor who had endured unimaginable horrors in concentration camps, was outraged by the idea of Nazis demonstrating in his adopted hometown.
Stern, who had lost family members to the Holocaust, could not fathom the idea of allowing acolytes of Hitler to march in the streets of America. He became an activist, rallying against the proposed Nazi gathering and challenging the views of his own rabbi, who suggested that residents should stay home and ignore the rally.
Despite facing death threats and buying a gun for protection, Stern continued to fight against the Nazis’ right to rally. He organized an awareness campaign, collected thousands of signatures on petitions, and spoke out against the rally in the media.
The legal battle between the village of Skokie and the American Civil Liberties Union, which defended the Nazis’ right to free speech, ultimately reached the United States Supreme Court. While the Illinois court ruled in favor of the Nazis’ right to display swastikas at the rally, the village’s efforts to block the demonstration were unsuccessful.
Although the Nazis were ultimately allowed to rally in nearby Chicago instead of Skokie, Stern’s activism and determination to stand up against hate left a lasting impact. His story was later fictionalized in the television movie “Skokie,” and he continued to speak out against racism and bigotry throughout his life.
Ben Stern passed away at the age of 102, leaving behind a legacy of resilience and courage in the face of hatred. His fight against the Nazis’ right to rally in Skokie serves as a reminder of the importance of standing up against injustice and intolerance, no matter the odds.
