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Edward Palmquist

Released
Gender:Male
Race:White
Era:1940s
State:Minnesota
Support
Marxism Socialism Socialist Workers Party
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Biography

Member of the Socialist Workers Party (SWP) or Minneapolis Teamsters Local 544 prosecuted in the 1941 Minneapolis Smith Act trial — the first-ever federal prosecution under the Smith Act of 1940. The Roosevelt administration charged 29 SWP and Teamsters 544 leaders with conspiracy to advocate the violent overthrow of the U.S. government, in retaliation for the SWP's antiwar organizing and its leadership of the 1934 Minneapolis general strike. 18 defendants were convicted; the 12-month group received sentences served at federal correctional institutions. SWP organizer.

Case

Charges: Smith Act of 1940 — conspiracy to advocate the overthrow of the U.S. government by force or violence.
Arrested: Jul 15, 1941
Sentenced: Dec 8, 1941
Sentence: 12 months federal imprisonment. Verdict as recorded: Yes — upheld by 8th Circuit; SCOTUS denied cert.
Convicted: Yes