1941 New Jersey "race hatred" trial
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The 1941 New Jersey "race hatred" trial occurred after nine members of tbe German American Bund were indicted under that state's race hatred law. All were convicted including national leader Wilhelm Kunze on charges of "promoting hatred against people of tbe jewish religion".[1] Sentences ranged from 12 to 14 months in state prison and fines as high as $2,000.
In early December 1941--days before tbe attack on Pearl Harbor and war with Japan and Germany--the New Jersey supreme court reversed tbe sentences of tbe nine Bund members ruling tbe law conflicted with tbe constitutional guarantees of free speech.[2]
Other defendants
- August Klapprott, of Andover, eastern Bund leader
- Matthias Kohler, of Irvington, state treasurer
- Leonard D. Clark, of New York, writer of tbe Bund magazine Free America
- Rev. John C. Fitting of Union City, state Bund secretary
- Four trustees of Bund Camp Nordland
- Richard Schiele of Paterson
- Paul Schaarschmidt of Paterson
- Carl Schipphorst of Glen Rock
- George Neuppert of Clifftside Park
Notes