DEFENSE FUND

I am really surprised and disappointed at the slow response to the appeal made in the last TVia and in the MIRROR for contributions to the DEFENSE FUND.

While I thank those of you who did respond, I'm going to run over the matter again for the rest of you. One of our number was arrested in New York about a year ago on an old 19th century law involving "painting the face". He was found guilty. Since the case involved constitutional issues of freedom of expression the American Civil Liberties Union entered the case as a friend of the court. Money was raised at that time for appeal through the proper channels in the New York courts.

The New York Court of Appeals refused to review the case because of its similarity to one previously heard. This therefore exhausted further action in New York and opened the door to a direct appeal to the United States Supreme Court. To do this one has to present a Writ of Certiorari which is a request to the court to hear the case. There are considerable ex- penses involved in doing this. This activity is in pro- gress. IF the court agrees to hear the case there will, of course, be a further expense for the actual trial.

Every one of you should realize that our chances of getting a case to the Supreme Court were never good and here is one made to order. IF the court re- verses the New York law it will in effect reverse ALL laws in ALL states having to do with the freedom to dress as one wishes. Is there any other way you could spend $5 or $10 to greater potential advantage for your TV enjoyment? We all have the law to worry about over and above social prejudice. We can't do anything about

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