OCTOBER 8 • 2020 | 25
general for consti-
tutional and civil
rights, explains
that the lawsuit’
s
premise is that
the plaintiffs were
deprived of “their
constitutional
rights of engaging in peaceful
acts of expression. The plain-
tiffs will have to prove that
the defendants conspired to
deprive them of their rights.
As a civil case, damages could
be awarded for interference
with the plaintiffs’
constitu-
tional rights.
”
Spitalnick says defendants
tried unsuccessfully to have
the case dismissed and some
have declared bankruptcy and
destroyed evidence to avoid
accountability. Several defen-
dants have been sanctioned
and fined for violating court
orders. Two have faced court
arrests, which is, she said,
“fairly unheard of in a civil
suit.
”
One of the defendants, Jeff
Schoep, former command-
er of the National Socialist
Movement, who lives in the
Detroit area, claims that his
phone fell in the toilet so that
he can’
t provide evidence,
says Spitalnick. (Schoep has
claimed that he renounced his
extremist views as described in
the JN, May 21, 2020.)
According to Spitalnick,
Integrity First for America
is funded by individuals and
foundations with many small
donations. In addition, the
Anti-Defamation League
(ADL), a nonprofit organi-
zation established in 1913 to
fight hate against Jewish and
other individuals, has con-
tributed $100,000 to this legal
effort.
A FINANCIAL IMPACT
“Integrity First for America’
s
case presents a unique
opportunity to have a direct
financial, legal and operational
impact on these
hate groups,
”
says Carolyn
Normandin,
regional director
for the Michigan
ADL.
“It’
s already
done so even before trial,
as has been acknowledged
directly by some of the
individual defendants …
Moreover, once a monetary
judgment is rendered, it can
reach future income and
assets of these groups and
individuals. It could hobble
them indefinitely.
”
While the jury trial has
been postponed until April
2021 due to COVID-19, final
depositions and other trial
preparations continue.
“
ADL invested in this case
by making a grant and offering
other support because it’
s
having — and will continue
to have — a concrete, tangible
impact in disrupting these
extremist organizations,
” says
Normandin.
“However, the ADL believes
other tactics are important in
the fight against extremism —
including closely monitoring
hate groups, advocacy for laws
to prevent cyber-harassment
and encouraging technology
leaders to disrupt hate online.
”
For updates about the trial, visit
integrityfirstforamerica.org.
“ADL invested in this case
by making a grant and
off
ering other support.”
— ADL’
S CAROLYN NORMANDIN
Carolyn
Normandin
Robert
Sedler
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