60 years ago – September 17, 1956
Quoting an article of a cross burning at a pastor’s home, the editor of the Presbyterian Outlook took a stand in his editorial.
“Bringing back the… technique of a discredited organization is an attempt to break down freedom of speech by making men afraid… Employed against a minister who preaches a currently unpopular doctrine concerning religion and race, it is an attempt to break down the freedom of religion by making men afraid to worship… .
Even if the police … find youthful hooligans to be the offenders, there should be no less concern about what happened. A climate has been created which gives to … young and old, the idea that they are heroically defending a point of view by trying to frighten people.
Those leaders at the top who create the climate which inspires an ugly action at the bottom cannot escape the moral responsibility for this and other assaults on human dignity… State leaders – political, moral, and intellectual – will perform a service if they take note of the reaction at the bottom to reckless talk at the top.’”
From “Inciting to riot” by Aubrey N. Brown
