John Howard Lawson

American dramatist

John Howard Lawson (September 25, 1894August 11, 1977) was an American playwright and screenwriter. A communist, he is remembered as one of the "Hollywood Ten", who were blacklisted for refusing to give testimony to the House Committee on Un-American Activities.

Quotes

edit
  • I am not on trial here, Mr. Chairman. This committee is on trial here before the American people. Let us get that straight.
    • To Committee Chairman, J. Parnell Thomas), testimony before the House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC) of the US House of Representatives (October 27, 1947).
  • You believe in freedom of speech for communists because what they say is true. You do not believe in freedom of speech for fascists because what they say is a lie.
    • Dmytryk, Edward (1996). Odd Man Out: a Memoir of the Hollywood Ten. Carbondale, Illinois, USA: Southern Illinois University Press. p. 114. ISBN 0-8093-1999-3. 
    • Speaking to the rest of the Hollywood Ten during their preparation for testimony, in answer to a hypothetical prosecution ploy, "Do you believe in free speech for fascists?"
edit
 
Wikipedia
Wikipedia has an article about: