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Constitutional Law Keyed to Choper
United States v. Spock
Citation:
416 F.2d 165 (1st Cir. 1969)Facts
In 1967, during the Vietnam War, several academics, clergy, and professionals collaborated on a document called “A Call to Resist Illegitimate Authority,” which criticized the war and expressed support for those who refused to serve. Dr. Benjamin Spock and Rev. William Sloane Coffin Jr. were among the original signers, and Mitchell Goodman later joined them. The Call was publicly launched at a press conference in New York where Goodman announced plans for a nationwide collection of draft cards to be surrendered to the Attorney General. Michael Ferber organized a draft card burning and turn-in at the Arlington Street Church in Boston, which Coffin attended. Four days later, all defendants participated in a demonstration in Washington D.C., attempting to present collected draft cards to the Attorney General. The government charged them with conspiracy to counsel, aid, and abet draft resistance in violation of the Selective Service Act.
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