The Letter to Congress

A congressional subcommittee investigating Communist activity in southern industry held hearings in a southern city. It called a witness who, with his wife, had signed a letter urging people to write to their senators and congressman opposing bills that would revive state sedition laws, warning the laws could be used against people working for racial integration in the South. The subcommittee asked him six questions, including whether he was a Communist Party member at the moment he signed that letter. He refused to answer any of them, saying he stood on Supreme Court decisions protecting his right to private belief and association. He was prosecuted for refusing to answer. The defence argued the questions were not pertinent and invaded First Amendment freedoms.