James T. Farrell | Trotskyist Writers | ETOL Home Page
From Labor Action, Vol. 8 No. 47, 20 November 1944, p. 3.
Transcribed & marked up by Einde O’Callaghan for the Encyclopaedia of Trotskyism On-Line (ETOL).
Dear Friend:
Twelve members of Minneapolis Truckdrivers Local 544-CIO and of the Socialist Workers Party have been in prison now for over ten months, solely because of their labor activities and political opinions. Six others were released on October 20.
The imprisonment of these eighteen under the vicious Smith “gag” law makes the Minneapolis Labor Case the most important civil liberties issue in recent years. Already over 350 unions and other progressive organizations representing more than 3,500,000 members have supported the work of the Civil Rights Defense Committee.
The Minneapolis Labor Case directly involves you and your democratic rights. Our campaign to free the prisoners and repeal the Smith “gag” act is a campaign to defend the hard-won rights of the entire American people.
Ever since the eighteen went to prison the CRDC has provided relief for their wives and children. Without this aid the families of these persecuted labor leaders would suffer great hardships and privations. Today the high cost of living makes feeding and clothing their unfortunate ones an ever-increasing problem for the committee.
HELP US TO MAKE THEIR CHRISTMAS CHEERFUL!
Please send your contribution to the Civil Rights Defense Committee, 1601 Fifth Avenue, New York.
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Sincerely yours, |
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JOHN GREEN JULIUS HOCHMAN JAMES T. FARRELL JOHN DEWEY |
GEORGE BALDANZI ROGER BALDWIN WILLARD S. TOWNSEND WARREN K. BILLINGS |
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