In 1920, Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer led the Palmer Raids, detaining thousands of people without warrants on suspicion of communist ties, marking the height of the Red Scare.
The raids were widely criticized for unconstitutional tactics, including warrantless searches and aggressive interrogations.
“The raids constituted a horrific, shameful episode in American history, one of the lowest moments for liberty since King George III quartered troops in private homes,” the Foundation for Economic Education wrote. (Trending: Donald Trump Breaks His Silence After Major Court Win)
Palmer’s motivations were possibly personal revenge and political ambition.
“Even simple criticism of the government was enough to send you to jail,” author Christopher Finan said.
The unconstitutional nature of the raids resurfaced in later years, with similar tactics being used during the Truman administration and the House Un-American Activities Committee.
These events cast a shadow over civil liberties and constitutional rights in the United States.
“The Constitution faced a major test on this day in 1920 when raids ordered by Attorney General Mitchell Palmer saw thousands of people detained without warrants merely upon general suspicion,” the National Constitution Center wrote.
“Facilitated by a young Justice Department official, J. Edgar Hoover, what became known as the Palmer Raids peaked on the night of Jan. 2, 1920, when between 3,000 and 10,000 people in 35 cities were detained.”
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