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

2180 COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES EST THE PEACE MOVEMENT
Mr. NiTTLE. I assume that you are no longer chairman of that
committee?
Dr. Obrinsky. The same answer, sir.
Mr. NiTTLE. Following the hearings of May and October 1960 of
the Senate Internal Seciu-ity Subcommittee inquiry into Communist
infiltration in the nuclear test ban movement, Henry Abrams, a leader
in the Greater New York Committee of SANE, revealed as a Communist,
was expelled from membership in that organization in January
1961. Did you continue to hold your position as chairman of the
Staten Island Committee of SANE after January 1961?
Dr. Obrinsky. Sir, I give you the same identical answer.
Mr. NiTTLE. Did you not organize the Staten Island Community
Peace Group following your termination of membership in SANE?
Dr. Obrinsky. The same answer applies.
Mr. NiTTLE. Dr. Obrinsky, on February 15, 1957, Dr. William
Sorum, a doctor and psychiatrist in private practice, residing then at
2267 Carondelet Street, New Orleans, La., testified in hearings
before this committee that he had been a member of the Communist
Party from 1945 until 1952 and that he was a member of the State
Committee of the Communist Party of the State of Louisiana during
the years 1946 and 1947.
Did you know Dr. WiUiam Sorum during the course of your residence
in New Orleans, La.?
Dr. Obrinsky. I reply the same answer, sir, to this question.
Mr. NiTTLE. You were, were you not, a resident formerly of New
Orleans, La.?
Dr. Obrinsky. I give you the same answer, sir.
Mr. NiTTLE. Dr. Sorum testified further that, in the course of his
membership there, he was assigned to the Professional Branch of the
Communist Party in New Orleans and that WLUiam Obrinsky was
likewise a member of that branch. Are you not the William Obrinsky
to whom Dr. Sorum referred in his testimony?
Dr. Obrinsky. The same answer, sir.
Mr. NiTTLE. Were you a member of the Professional Branch of the
Communist Party in New Orleans, La.?
Dr. Obrinsky. Once again the same answer.
Mr. NiTTLE. Have you ever been a member of the Communist
Party?
Dr. Obrinsky. I must give you the same answer, sir.
Mr. NiTTLE. Are you not now a member of the Communist Party?
Dr. Obrinsky. I give you again the same answer.
Mr. Doyle. I instruct you to answer that question. Witness.
(Witness conferred with counsel.)
Dr. Obrestsky. I decHne to answer the question on the grounds
previously stated.
Mr. Nittle. Dr. Obrinsky, I hand yo\i a copy of a news item,
marked for identification as Obrinsky Exhibit No. 2, which appeared
in the Staten Island Advance December 20, 1961, titled "Panel Splits
on Fallout Shelters."
The item reports a debate which took place the previous evening
in the Town Forum series, with you appearing as a speaker, pointing
out the hazards of faUout or bomb shelters. Did you appear as a
debater on the panel as reported?
Dr. Obrinsky. I give you the same answer, sir.