N.J. Constitutional Convention: Volume 3 Page 290.

LETTER AND PROPOSAL OF ALLIED THEATRE&nbspOWNERS OF NEW JERSEY, INC.

Allied Theatre Owners of New Jersey, Inc.&nbsp208 Ferry Street&nbspNewark, N. J.&nbsp

July 2, 1947

&nbspMr. Oliver F. Van Camp, Secretary,&nbspNew Jersey Constitutional Convention,&nbspNew Brunswick, N. J.
Dear Sir:

I am enclosing a proposed amendment to Article I, section 5 of the New Jersey Constitution for consideration by the Convention. The Allied Theatre Owners of New Jersey present this amendment, prepared after most careful and deliberate thought, in the hope that the delegates will recognize the need for incorporating in the revised Constitution a clause establishing freedom of speech by any mode of communication.

When the present Constitution was adopted, the motion picture had not yet been invented and no provision was made to protect this means of communication. We deem it essential that the graphic or visual method of communication be given the same protection that is given to the written or printed word.

Very truly yours,George Gold,&nbspChairman of Legislative Committee

Clause Establishing Freedom of Speech by Any&nbspMode of Communication

That no law be passed impairing the freedom of speech by any mode of communication; that every person shall be free to say, write, publish or otherwise communicate by any method or in any form whether written, printed, graphic or visual whatever he will, on any subject, being responsible for all abuse of that liberty. In all prosecutions of indictments for libel, the truth thereof may be given in evidence to the jury; and if it shall appear to the jury that the matter charged as libelous is true and was published with good motives and for justifiable ends, the party shall be acquitted; and the jury shall have the right to determine the law and the fact.

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