"They Put You in Jail"
Item
IF YOU BELIEVE THAT DEMOCRACY MEANS:
free expression of opinion . . . no political persecution.
IF YOU ARE DEDICATED TO THE PROPOSI-
TION THAT FASCISM MUST BE DESTROYED
AT HOME AS WELL AS ABROAD:
1. Write at once to Governor Lehman, Executive Mansion,
Albany, N. Y., asking him to pardon Morris U.
Schappes immediately. Tell the Governor that you
are sending a copy of your letter to the press because
you believe that everyone must be made aware of the
threat to civil liberties.
2. Join the FRIENDS OF MORRIS U. SCHAPPES, an or-
ganization that proposes to see that Morris U. Schappes
is freed and vindicated and the dignity of American
justice restored.
===) JOIN IN THE DEFENSE OF ACADEMIC
FREEDOM!
mam) ENROLL FOR FREEDOM OF THOUGHT!
m=) SIGN THE ENROLLMENT SLIP,
return it to us together with your membership fee (member-
ship from $1.00 to $100.00). We will send you in return a pin
designed by Rockwell Kent which will show that you together
with thousands of other Americans believe in democracy.
~~ —Sacaeg oF womis uv semanee «THEY PUT Youe IN JAIL
Membership $1.00 to $100.00
7 aR | a ag °c area WHEN THEY SENTENCED
niiee COMMITTEE MORRIS U. SCHAPPES
F819) Gis Gee.) ere 114 E. 16th St. N. Yu.
WHY WAS MORRIS U. SCHAPPES PUT IN JAIL?
These One Tho Real Reasons
That’s Why:
MORRIS U. SCHAPPES was attacked
by the Rapp-Coudert Committee and
suspended from his position as
teacher at City College.
Morris U. Schappes said:
“I believe in political, racial and social
equality for Jews, immigrants, Cath-
olics and for that specially oppressed
people, the Negro people.
MORRIS U. SCHAPPES, a courageous
and outspoken enemy of Fascism,
was sentenced to prison from 11/ to
2 years.
Because:
“I wish to help liberate the cultural
energies and productive capacities of
the common people from the crip-
pling restrictions placed upon them
by big business.
HE spoke out against expulsions of
Anti-Fascist students at City College.
MORRIS U. SCHAPPES after 34 days
in the Tombs was released in the
exorbitant bail of $10,000!!!
HE helped to organize the Teachers
Union which fought for democracy
and freedom to teach the truth.
THAT’S WHY “the defendant was
tried and convicted! by a jury whose
prejudice against Communists was
open and admitted... . The preju-
dice against the defendant extended
to the court itself whose rulings
were unmistakeably hostile.” —
(from the National Lawyers Guild
brief.)
“I desire to see my students freed from
the economic handicaps and the in-
security that is making them aimless
in their studies and uncertain of the
future that their education cannot
help them plan or chart.
HE helped to organize the Anti-Fascist
Association at City College.
HE refused to bow before the Rapp-
Coudert Committee’s attempt to Hit-
lerize the schools.
HE admitted he had been a member
of the Communist Party for five
years, and was still in sympathy with
the program of the Communist
Party.
“I want for the American people and
for myself, peace, security, culture
and happiness.”
TOM MOONEY.......... 1916
b EUGENE V.DEBS........ 1918
Remember . . . sacco and VANZETTI.... 1920
Be te
free expression of opinion . . . no political persecution.
IF YOU ARE DEDICATED TO THE PROPOSI-
TION THAT FASCISM MUST BE DESTROYED
AT HOME AS WELL AS ABROAD:
1. Write at once to Governor Lehman, Executive Mansion,
Albany, N. Y., asking him to pardon Morris U.
Schappes immediately. Tell the Governor that you
are sending a copy of your letter to the press because
you believe that everyone must be made aware of the
threat to civil liberties.
2. Join the FRIENDS OF MORRIS U. SCHAPPES, an or-
ganization that proposes to see that Morris U. Schappes
is freed and vindicated and the dignity of American
justice restored.
===) JOIN IN THE DEFENSE OF ACADEMIC
FREEDOM!
mam) ENROLL FOR FREEDOM OF THOUGHT!
m=) SIGN THE ENROLLMENT SLIP,
return it to us together with your membership fee (member-
ship from $1.00 to $100.00). We will send you in return a pin
designed by Rockwell Kent which will show that you together
with thousands of other Americans believe in democracy.
~~ —Sacaeg oF womis uv semanee «THEY PUT Youe IN JAIL
Membership $1.00 to $100.00
7 aR | a ag °c area WHEN THEY SENTENCED
niiee COMMITTEE MORRIS U. SCHAPPES
F819) Gis Gee.) ere 114 E. 16th St. N. Yu.
WHY WAS MORRIS U. SCHAPPES PUT IN JAIL?
These One Tho Real Reasons
That’s Why:
MORRIS U. SCHAPPES was attacked
by the Rapp-Coudert Committee and
suspended from his position as
teacher at City College.
Morris U. Schappes said:
“I believe in political, racial and social
equality for Jews, immigrants, Cath-
olics and for that specially oppressed
people, the Negro people.
MORRIS U. SCHAPPES, a courageous
and outspoken enemy of Fascism,
was sentenced to prison from 11/ to
2 years.
Because:
“I wish to help liberate the cultural
energies and productive capacities of
the common people from the crip-
pling restrictions placed upon them
by big business.
HE spoke out against expulsions of
Anti-Fascist students at City College.
MORRIS U. SCHAPPES after 34 days
in the Tombs was released in the
exorbitant bail of $10,000!!!
HE helped to organize the Teachers
Union which fought for democracy
and freedom to teach the truth.
THAT’S WHY “the defendant was
tried and convicted! by a jury whose
prejudice against Communists was
open and admitted... . The preju-
dice against the defendant extended
to the court itself whose rulings
were unmistakeably hostile.” —
(from the National Lawyers Guild
brief.)
“I desire to see my students freed from
the economic handicaps and the in-
security that is making them aimless
in their studies and uncertain of the
future that their education cannot
help them plan or chart.
HE helped to organize the Anti-Fascist
Association at City College.
HE refused to bow before the Rapp-
Coudert Committee’s attempt to Hit-
lerize the schools.
HE admitted he had been a member
of the Communist Party for five
years, and was still in sympathy with
the program of the Communist
Party.
“I want for the American people and
for myself, peace, security, culture
and happiness.”
TOM MOONEY.......... 1916
b EUGENE V.DEBS........ 1918
Remember . . . sacco and VANZETTI.... 1920
Be te
Title
"They Put You in Jail"
Description
This is a pamphlet from 1941 created in support of recently fired and imprisoned City College English instructor Morris Schappes. Schappes, a self-avowed communist was sentenced to prison for failing to divulge the names of his fellow party members on the faculty at CCNY.
At a March 1941 hearing before the Rapp-Coudert Committee, a New York State organized communist-hunt group, Schappes freely admitted his communist ties. When state officials demanded he name other party members at CCNY, Schappes claimed there were only ever four others: three of whom had been killed in the Spanish Civil War and another that had already left the school. Testimony from a friendly, ex-communist witness contradicted Schappes' claims and so the English instructor was tried for perjury, convicted and sentenced for up to two years in prison. He would ultimately serve thirteen and a half months before his release. From his conviction through his imprisonment, activists protested for his release with many viewing his imprisonment as punishment for his political opinions.
At a March 1941 hearing before the Rapp-Coudert Committee, a New York State organized communist-hunt group, Schappes freely admitted his communist ties. When state officials demanded he name other party members at CCNY, Schappes claimed there were only ever four others: three of whom had been killed in the Spanish Civil War and another that had already left the school. Testimony from a friendly, ex-communist witness contradicted Schappes' claims and so the English instructor was tried for perjury, convicted and sentenced for up to two years in prison. He would ultimately serve thirteen and a half months before his release. From his conviction through his imprisonment, activists protested for his release with many viewing his imprisonment as punishment for his political opinions.
Contributor
Smith, Carol
Creator
Schappes Defense Committee
Date
1941
Language
English
Publisher
Schappes Defense Committee
Relation
3942
4072
3922
3902
Rights
Obtained from Contributor - Copyright Unknown
Source
CCNY Archives & Special Collections
Original Format
Pamphlet / Petition
Schappes Defense Committee. Letter. 1940. “‘They Put You in Jail’”. 3942, 1940, CUNY DIGITAL HISTORY ARCHIVE, accessed March 10, 2026, https://stephenz.tailc22a4b.ts.net/s/cdha/item/544