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The ACLU once fought for Nazis' right to march in this Jewish neighborhood -- in America
Michael Heimlich/ Getty

The ACLU once fought for Nazis' right to march in this Jewish neighborhood -- in America

In 1977, with the help of the American Civil Liberties Union, the Supreme Court voted in favor of allowing the National Socialist Party to march in Skokie, Illinois -- a community made up of thousands of Jewish concentration camp survivors. One in ten residents had tattoos on their arms.

Skokie had refused to grant permission for the Nazis to march. The ACLU fought for their first amendment rights to assembly and free speech. On June 14, 1977, the Supreme Court reversed the April 29, 1977, Cook county court's injunction.

Mike Opelka was a very young man at that time, working at a fine dining establishment in Skokie, owned by a Jewish gentleman and patronized by Jewish persons. He recalled on today's "Pure Opelka" his "front row seat to hate" and the discussions after closing time about how to handle the Nazis if they won.

Because of what he learned then, Mike counseled mockery and wit when dealing with such blind hatred.

To see more from Mike, visit his channel on TheBlaze and listen live to “Pure Opelka” weekdays 12-3 p.m. ET, 7–10 p.m. ET & Saturdays 6–9 a.m. ET, only on TheBlaze Radio Network.

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