First Amendment Felon

By Robert Sherrill

This source is a biographical account of Frank Wilkinson who was an instrumental defender of First Amendment rights in the United States. When questioned by the U.S. House Un-American Activities (HUAC) on public housing, Wilkinson refused to answer questions regarding his political affiliation and as a result, he was later held in contempt and was sentenced to jail time. Wilkinson became a staunch defender of free speech and devoted the rest of his life to the protection of the First Amendment for all citizens of the U.S.