National Committee Against Repressive Legislation

The National Committee Against Repressive Legislation, founded in 1960 has now merged with Defending Dissent. The group was referred to as NCARL.

History

NCARL was formerly the National Committee to Abolish HUAC (House UnAmerican Activities Committee) and the House Committee on Internal Security.

New American Movement

In 1981, Esther Herst, National Director; Frank Wilkinson, Executive Director Emeritus and Laura Berg, Portland Area NCARL Representative & Member, NAM's National Interim Committee of the National Committee Against Repressive Legislation saluted NAM "for its commitment to democracy" on the occasion of its 10^th anniversary.

Personnel

Founders

The following were founders of the Committee:

• James Imbrie
• Alexander Meiklejohn
• Clarence E. Pickett
• Aubrey W. Williams

Chairpersons

Circa 1965, the following were Chairpersons of the Committee:

• Harvey O'Connor - Chairperson Emeritus
• Prof. Robert Havighurst

Directors

Circa 1965, the following were Vice-Chairpersons of the Committee:

• Dr. Donna Allen
• Prof. Timuel Black
• Senator Julian Bond
• Anne Braden
• Bert Corona
• Sylvia Crane
• Philip Hirschkop
• Michael Honey
• Prof. Peter Irons
• Prof. David Randall
• Lyle Mercer
• Martin Michaelson
• Rev. Edward L. Peet
• Prof.Steve Slaby
• Rev. C. T. Vivian
• Gina Wilson

As at April, 2006, the following were Directors of the Committee:

• Kit Gage, Director
• Katie Roberts, Asst. Director

Steering Committee

Steering Committee as at April, 2006:

• Chip Berlet
• Timuel Black
• Kit Gage
• Don Goldhamer
• Connie Hogarth
• Sarah Hogarth
• Hussein Ibish
• Fadi Saba
• Vivian Schatz
• Chris Townsend
• Sue Udry
• Frank Wilkinson, Director Emeritus

Offices

The following were members of various offices of and affiliated with NCARL, throughout the United States circa 1965:

National Office

• Frank Wilkinson - Executive Director, Field Representative
• Joan Howarth - Assistant to the Director
• Betty Rottger - National Office Coordinator

Washington, D.C. Office

• Esther Herst - Coordinator
• Professor Vern Countryman - Adviser on Constitutional Law
• Professor Thomas Emerson - Adviser on Constitutional Law
• Professor Carole Goldberg-Ambrose - Adviser on Constitutional Law
• Professor Walter Vincent - Secretary
• John Crowe - Treasurer

Northern California Area Offices

The following were members of the Northern Californians Against Repressive Legislation:

• Reverend William Baird - Chairperson
• Miriam Rothschild - Coordinator
• Richard Criley - Director

Midwest Regional Office

The following were members of the Chicago Committee to Defend the Bill of Rights:

• Boris Brail - Chairperson
• Rachel DeGolia - Director

Northwest Regional Office

The following were members of the Northwest Committee Against Repressive Legislation:

• Professor Giovanni Costigan - Hon. Chairperson
• Charles Porter - Chairperson
• Beverly Taylor - NCARL Representative

NCARL Representatives of Cooperating Committees

The following were representatives from cooperating Committees:

• James Jackson - Coordinator, Greater Boston Area Coalition to Stop S. 1437
• David Collins - Coordinator, Greater Boston Area Coalition to Stop S. 1437
• Olga Strickland - Florida NCARL Representative
• Robert McKay - Coordinator, Madison Coalition to Stop S. 1437
• Laura Berg - Coordinator, Montanans Opposed to Repressive Legislation
• Rose Paull - Coordinator, South Jersey Coalition to Defend the Bill of Rights
• Southern Organizing Committee for Economic & Social Justice