An Uneven Playing Field

      Throughout history, individuals have been rendered powerless when the social system that should guarantee their equality ignores them or, worse, turns against them. This is particularly the case where false reports against individuals can go unchecked.

	Freedom has long been a forum for issues of social justice. Coverage has included investigating iniquities spawned by the McCarthy era and providing a voice to Simon Wiesenthal when he came under heavy fire in the 1970s.

      In 1976, Simon Wiesenthal was the target of a defamation campaign in Austria for his exposure of the Nazi past of a right-wing politician. An onslaught of outrageous accusations against him ensued, from politicians, government and media, and the controversy went global. Recognizing how adversity and false reports from powerful elements in society tilt the playing field of justice, Freedom published an exclusive interview with Wiesenthal that set the record straight. As a result of the truth being made known through Freedom and other media, Wiesenthal was able to overcome the oppression and continue his vital work to bring Nazi war criminals to justice.

      A review of recent U.S. history rapidly narrows in on the McCarthy era and its House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) as a paradigm of injustice based on false reports.

      Freedom featured the story of Frank Wilkinson, an official with the California State Housing Authority who was targeted by the California equivalent of HUAC, known as the “Little HUAC.” Wilkinson, adamantly opposed to the concept of the Committee, refused to answer questions. He subsequently lost his job and spent a year in prison (1961 to 1962) for contempt of Congress.

Equal Rights and Social Justice continued ...

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