| The whole area of the courthouse was roped off. They were
mobilized as if there was going to be a major encounter of some kind. The New York
Times reported it was the largest armed contingent for a court case in police
history. The government's "evidence" consisted mainly of excerpts
from books and ludicrous stories told by informers that they said was proof that we
advocated force and violence. I had written an article in 1938 with Eugene Dennis that
said that Communists had to come forward as champions in the struggle for democracy. Now,
here was an article written by two defendants long before the trial that showed that we
advocated democracy, not force and violence. But when my lawyer introduced this as
evidence while I was on the stand, the prosecutor jumped up and objected and the judge
said, "Objection sustained." Well, I turned to the judge and said, "Your
honor, this article is germane to the very heart of the issue." Whereupon he took his
gavel and banged it down, and said, "I'm going to charge you right now with contempt
of court." So, for the last four and a half months of the trial, I was taken
handcuffed from the prison every morning to the courtroom. |
