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Ruth Bishop

Released
Gender:Female
Race:White
Era:1950s
State:California
Support
Civil Liberties
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Biography

Ruth Bishop was a California teacher subpoenaed in the 1959 House Un-American Activities Committee probe of public-school teachers. After she flung the subpoena — and a broom — at the process server, she was indicted on three counts of 'force and violence' and found guilty by a Long Beach jury, paying a fine to avoid 60 days in jail.

Case

Charges: 'Force and violence' against a process server — resisting a HUAC subpoena
Sentence: Fined (in lieu of 60 days in jail)
Convicted: Found guilty by a Long Beach jury (1959)