Communist activities in the peace movement (Women Strike for ...

COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN THE PEACE MOVEMENT 2179
Mr. NiTTLE. Dr. Obrinsky, did you in the early part of 1961 organize
the Staten Island Community Peace Group?
Dr. Obrinsky. Sir, I decline to answer that question on the previously
stated grounds.
Mr. NiTTLE. Did you not in March of 1961 issue press releases on
behalf of this group, the contents of which were published in the
Staten Island Advance, a daily newspaper circulated in your area?
Dr. Obrinsky. I decline, sir, to answer on the previously stated
grounds.
Mr. NiTTLE. I now hand you two news items, marked for identification
as Obrinsky Exhibit No. 1, which appeared, respectively, on
March 6 and March 15, 1961, in the Staten Island Advance.
You will note that the former item reports that the Staten Island
Community Peace Group met the previous evening in the Unitarian
Church hall, New Brighton, and planned a theater party for April 12
in the Empire Theater at which the film "Grand Illusion," described
in the newspaper account as an anti-war film, would be shown. It
was also reported that your group announced circulation of a petition,
allegedly drafted by Linus Pauling, protesting the spread of nuclear
weapons.
The latter item repeats the announcement of the sponsoring by
your group of a showing of an anti-war film titled "Grand Illusion"
and carries the announcement that your "peace group" is also circulating
a petition which will be presented at the Oslo meeting of the
NATO powers April 15, That petition seeks to avert an expansion
of the nuclear power to the member nations of NATO.
Did you prepare the press releases and make this information
available to the press on behalf of the Staten Island Community
Peace Group?
(Witness conferred with counsel.)
Dr. Obrinsky. Sir, I repeat that I invoke my rights under the first
and my privilege under the fifth.
(Documents marked "Obrinsky Exhibit No. 1" and retained in
committee files.)
Mr. NiTTLE. Would you tell us please whether offices are maintained
by the Staten Island Community Peace Group?
Dr. Obrinsky. I decline to answer on the same grounds, sir.
Mr. NiTTLE. Where are these offices located?
Dr. Obrinsky. I still decline to answer, sir, same answer.
Mr. NiTTLE. Are the offices located or maintained in your residence
or place of business?
Dr. Obrinsky. The same answer, sir.
Mr. NiTTLE. I assume that your group is still in existence. Is it?
Dr. Obrinsky. The same answer, sir.
Mr. NiTTLE. Would you tell the committee the number of persons
who comprise its membership in addition to yourself?
Dr. Obrinsky. I am afraid I must give you the same answer, sir.
Mr. NiTTLE. Dr. Obrinsky, were you not formerly the chairman of
the Staten Island Committee in the Greater New York area of the
National Committee for a Sane Nuclear Policy?
Dr. Obrinsky. Same answer, sir.
Mr. NiTTLE. During what period of time have you served as chairman
of the Staten Island Committee of SANE?
Dr. Obrinsky, The same answer, sir.