Author Background
Philippa Strum the author of “When the Nazis came to Skokie” was born in New York City on December 14, 1938. Philippa Strum is well versed in the fields of political science and legal studies as she would obtain her graduate degree from Harvard and her Ph.D. from The New School located in New York City. Philippa Strum would become a professor of political science at City University in New York where she would tech for over two decades. Ms. Strum was also once a professor of constitutional law at Wayne State University Law School, while also traveling and lecturing to schools across the country. Along with books on freedom of speech Ms. Strum has also published a book appropriately titled and covering “Mendez v. Westminster” …show more content…
Some form of higher education and legal study knowledge is nearly a necessity to understand the book due to its constant references to court cases which helped form the legal precedent for ideas and sides which would be used and argued over in the Skokie trials. Without some comprehension in legal studies most readers will not understand the necessary references and ideas used from other trials which helped set a precedent over what principles helped ultimately compose and decide the Skokie …show more content…
While reading through the book I was often persuaded by both sides leading me to believe in the justice and legality of both sides. Frank Collin and the Neo Nazis brought to light many important points while defending their right to peacefully assemble in a public area. How could the government possibly ban some one’s ability to make public speech not knowing exactly what the Neo Nazis had planned on saying or how the people of Skokie would react. The government was issuing prior restraint against the citizens in the group and effectively preventing them from their right to free speech. Another argument made on behalf of the neo Nazis by the ACLU was the fact that the argument made by the government that they had the authority to regulate and prevent dangerous and disagreeable groups from protesting and having demonstrations on their behalf could be in turn used against other groups who were protesting for more morally accepted reasons as well. The ACLU keenly argued that the same rules which would prevent Frank Collin and his group of Neo Nazis from demonstrating could also have been used against civil rights activist of the past decades who went against the public and government sentiment and fought for equality for all races.
Philippa Strum the author of “When the Nazis came to Skokie” was born in New York City on December 14, 1938. Philippa Strum is well versed in the fields of political science and legal studies as she would obtain her graduate degree from Harvard and her Ph.D. from The New School located in New York City. Philippa Strum would become a professor of political science at City University in New York where she would tech for over two decades. Ms. Strum was also once a professor of constitutional law at Wayne State University Law School, while also traveling and lecturing to schools across the country. Along with books on freedom of speech Ms. Strum has also published a book appropriately titled and covering “Mendez v. Westminster” …show more content…
Some form of higher education and legal study knowledge is nearly a necessity to understand the book due to its constant references to court cases which helped form the legal precedent for ideas and sides which would be used and argued over in the Skokie trials. Without some comprehension in legal studies most readers will not understand the necessary references and ideas used from other trials which helped set a precedent over what principles helped ultimately compose and decide the Skokie …show more content…
While reading through the book I was often persuaded by both sides leading me to believe in the justice and legality of both sides. Frank Collin and the Neo Nazis brought to light many important points while defending their right to peacefully assemble in a public area. How could the government possibly ban some one’s ability to make public speech not knowing exactly what the Neo Nazis had planned on saying or how the people of Skokie would react. The government was issuing prior restraint against the citizens in the group and effectively preventing them from their right to free speech. Another argument made on behalf of the neo Nazis by the ACLU was the fact that the argument made by the government that they had the authority to regulate and prevent dangerous and disagreeable groups from protesting and having demonstrations on their behalf could be in turn used against other groups who were protesting for more morally accepted reasons as well. The ACLU keenly argued that the same rules which would prevent Frank Collin and his group of Neo Nazis from demonstrating could also have been used against civil rights activist of the past decades who went against the public and government sentiment and fought for equality for all races.