National Committee Against Repressive Legislation
Encyclopedia
The Defending Dissent Foundation (DDF), previously known for many years as the National Committee Against Repressive Legislation (NCARL) and formed in 1960 as the National Committee to Abolish HUAC, is a national not-for-profit advocacy organization in the United States
, dedicated to defending the right of political dissent
.
Based in Washington, D.C.
, NCARL was founded in 1960 as a group opposing the House Un-American Activities Committee
(known popularly by the acronym HUAC) of the U.S. House of Representatives. It formed in Southern California
as an outgrowth of 1950s efforts against McCarthyism
that had been led by the Southern California Civil Liberties Union (a unit of the American Civil Liberties Union
) and the Citizens Committee to Preserve American Freedoms. Called The National Committee to Abolish HUAC, the group changed its name to NCARL after HUAC was abolished in 1975. In 2007, NCARL changed its name again, to the Defending Dissent Foundation.
The organization's founding director and long-time head, Frank Wilkinson
, was cited for contempt by HUAC in 1961 and sent to jail
on May 1, 1961. In 1984 it was discovered that, under the leadership of J. Edgar Hoover
, the Federal Bureau of Investigation
had compiled a 132,000-page file on Wilkinson.
DDF identifies itself as a member of several coalition
s of U.S. advocacy groups:
The organization publishes a monthly newsletter, archived online.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, dedicated to defending the right of political dissent
Political dissent
Political dissent refers to any expression designed to convey dissatisfaction with or opposition to the policies of a governing body. Such expression may take forms from vocal disagreement to civil disobedience to the use of violence. Historically, repressive governments have sought to punish...
.
Based in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, NCARL was founded in 1960 as a group opposing the House Un-American Activities Committee
House Un-American Activities Committee
The House Committee on Un-American Activities or House Un-American Activities Committee was an investigative committee of the United States House of Representatives. In 1969, the House changed the committee's name to "House Committee on Internal Security"...
(known popularly by the acronym HUAC) of the U.S. House of Representatives. It formed in Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
as an outgrowth of 1950s efforts against McCarthyism
McCarthyism
McCarthyism is the practice of making accusations of disloyalty, subversion, or treason without proper regard for evidence. The term has its origins in the period in the United States known as the Second Red Scare, lasting roughly from the late 1940s to the late 1950s and characterized by...
that had been led by the Southern California Civil Liberties Union (a unit of the American Civil Liberties Union
American Civil Liberties Union
The American Civil Liberties Union is a U.S. non-profit organization whose stated mission is "to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States." It works through litigation, legislation, and...
) and the Citizens Committee to Preserve American Freedoms. Called The National Committee to Abolish HUAC, the group changed its name to NCARL after HUAC was abolished in 1975. In 2007, NCARL changed its name again, to the Defending Dissent Foundation.
The organization's founding director and long-time head, Frank Wilkinson
Frank Wilkinson
Frank Wilkinson was a civil liberties activist, Executive Director of the National Committee Against Repressive Legislation and Executive Director of the First Amendment Foundation....
, was cited for contempt by HUAC in 1961 and sent to jail
Jail
A jail is a short-term detention facility in the United States and Canada.Jail may also refer to:In entertainment:*Jail , a 1966 Malayalam movie*Jail , a 2009 Bollywood movie...
on May 1, 1961. In 1984 it was discovered that, under the leadership of J. Edgar Hoover
J. Edgar Hoover
John Edgar Hoover was the first Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation of the United States. Appointed director of the Bureau of Investigation—predecessor to the FBI—in 1924, he was instrumental in founding the FBI in 1935, where he remained director until his death in 1972...
, the Federal Bureau of Investigation
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
had compiled a 132,000-page file on Wilkinson.
DDF identifies itself as a member of several coalition
Coalition
A coalition is a pact or treaty among individuals or groups, during which they cooperate in joint action, each in their own self-interest, joining forces together for a common cause. This alliance may be temporary or a matter of convenience. A coalition thus differs from a more formal covenant...
s of U.S. advocacy groups:
- Charity and Security Network
- Rights Working Group
- OpentheGovernment.org
- United for Peace and JusticeUnited for Peace and JusticeUnited for Peace and Justice is a coalition of more than 1,300 international and U.S.-based organizations opposed to "our government's policy of permanent warfare and empire-building."...
- Liberty CoalitionLiberty CoalitionThe Liberty Coalition is a non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C. that connects politically diverse organizations and promotes transpartisan policies related to civil liberties and basic human rights....
- Free Expression Network
- Alliance for JusticeAlliance for JusticeAlliance for Justice is a national association of environmental, civil rights, mental health, women's, children's and consumer advocacy organizations in the USA....
- Cybersecurity Working Group
- D.C. Bill of Rights Committee
The organization publishes a monthly newsletter, archived online.
Further reading
- Robert Sherrill (2005), First Amendment Felon: The Story of Frank Wilkinson, His 132,000-Page FBI File, and His Epic Fight for Civil Rights and Liberties. Nation Books. ISBN 9781560257790, ISBN 1560257792.