In the 1930s, Nazi groups established a significant presence in America, including a youth camp called Wille und Macht in Griggstown, New Jersey, where two hundred boys conducted military drills. The article details how these organizations, such as the Friends of the New Germany with over ten thousand members, held large rallies and spread antisemitic propaganda, sparking debates about hate speech laws and freedom of expression for extremist groups under the First Amendment.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-16,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
In the summer of 1934, residents of Griggstown, New Jersey watched with alarm as tents emblazoned with swastikas were erected on the banks of the Delaware and Raritan Canal.
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tents → watch → Canal
Two hundred boys ranging in age from eight to sixteen, dressed in khaki shirts, black rubber-soled shoes, and brown stockings rolled below the knees, conducted military-style drills before swastika flags that were four feet long.
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that → range → flags
These exercises were part of a youth summer camp called Wille und Macht (Will and Might), sponsored by the Friends of the New Germany, the largest Nazi organization in America, with more than ten thousand members.
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exercises → call → members
Camp Wille und Macht opened shortly after the Friends of the New Germany held a massive rally attended by twenty thousand people in New York's Madison Square Garden.
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Friends → open → Garden
Nazi storm troopers stood at attention atop a red-draped platform.
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troopers → stand → platform
On each side of the stage were black columns decorated with the German eagle bearing the swastika.
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columns → decorate → swastika
The Nazis wore swastika armbands and uniforms consisting of military trousers, Sam Browne belts, high boots, and white shirts.
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Nazis → wear → trousers
Seven hundred policemen patrolled the Garden, attempting to rein in rowdy counterprotesters including the Young Communists' League and the "Anti-Nazi Minute Men."
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policemen → patrol → League
The presence of Nazis in the United States led to widespread calls for hate speech laws.
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presence → lead → laws
It set off an intense dialogue around the question: Does the First Amendment provide freedom of speech to those who would, if in power, destroy freedom?
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who → set → freedom
During the 1930s, more than eight hundred fascist groups gained a toehold in the United States during the national crisis of the Great Depression.
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groups → gain → Depression
With names like the Silver Shirts, the Citizens Protective League, and the Patriotic Sons of America, the fascist groups, with their promises of hope and prosperity, appealed to thousands of disaffected and impoverished Americans.
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groups → appeal → Americans
Some of the groups were native in origin, while some of them, such as the Friends of the New Germany, were Nazi organizations funded by Berlin.
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Some → fund → Berlin
More than three hundred publications in the United States spewed Hitler's racial theories.
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publications → spew → theories
Jews were routinely blamed for the nation's financial woes.
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Jews → blame → woes
Some called the New Deal a "Jewish plot."
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Some → call → Deal
Father Charles Coughlin, known as the "Radio Priest," commanded thirty million listeners at the height of his popularity in the mid-1930s.
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Coughlin → know → mid-1930s
Coughlin also published a magazine called Social Justice, which was known to print copy verbatim from The Protocols of the Elders of Zion.
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which → publish → Zion
Although the fascists never posed a threat to the nation's security, they had an ominous presence.
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they → pose → presence
In New York and New Jersey, Nazis affiliated with the Friends of the New Germany held rallies and marched in the streets chanting "Heil Hitler."
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Nazis → affiliate → Hitler
They distributed antisemitic literature and showed Nazi propaganda films from Germany.
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They → distribute → Germany
Everywhere they went, they were met with violence; they were pelted with eggs, and hecklers cut off their speeches.
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hecklers → go → speeches
Several towns in New York and northern New Jersey prohibited the Nazis from assembling.
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towns → prohibit → Nazis
By the end of 1934, the Friends of the New Germany had been banned in several municipalities in New Jersey.
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Friends → ban → Jersey
Just days after Camp Wille und Macht was discovered, two members of the New Jersey Assembly introduced a bill that was intended to stop the violent breaches of the peace that took place wherever the Nazis gathered and distributed their propaganda.
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Nazis → discover → propaganda
Under the "anti-Nazi" bill, any person who created, distributed, or circulated a "book, speech, article, statement, circular or pamphlet" which "in any way … incites, counsels, promotes, or advocates hatred, violence, or hostility against any group or groups of persons … by reason of race, color, religion, creed, or manner of worship" could be punished with a fine or a jail sentence ranging from ninety days to three years and a fine from $200 to $5,000.
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which → create → 5,000
The bill did not mention Nazis specifically, but there is no question that it was aimed at the Nazis.
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it → mention → Nazis
The bill banned organizations that had bylaws advocating racial or religious hatred and made it a crime to print, possess, broadcast, or display a photograph or sign that could incite such hatred.
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that → ban → hatred
It was forbidden under the law to make any statement "in the presence of two or more persons" inciting "race hatred."
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It → forbid → hatred
Even true statements could be punished if they promoted hatred or hostility against any group of persons in the state by reason of race or religion.
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they → punish → race
The Aporia
