Pete Seeger vs. the House Un-American Activities Commitee: The Transcript (so so so great)

[markpkessinger]

26. What is particularly striking here . . .

. . . Is that Seeger did not invoke the Fifth Amendment, like many others understandably chose to do when called before HUAC. No, Seeger simply refused to answer the questions on the ground that he resolutely refused to recognize the legitimacy of the questions being asked by HUAC, whether directed to him or to any other citizen. This was a much more powerful statement than if he had invoked the Fifth, but it also left him with one less defense at trial. In refusing to invoke the Fifth while refusing to answer HUAC's questions, he left himself with only one avenue of defense in his eventual contempt trial, and that was his freedom of speech under the First Amendment. And he did this knowingly. Now THAT's courage! I mean, any other person facing any kind of criminal prosecution would (quite understandably) want to leave open every possible avenue of defense. But Seeger, God bless him, was intent on making a much more important, and significant, statement.