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Article snippet: The American Civil Liberties Union was under severe duress. Hate mail poured in, death threats, and the executive director was spat on. That moment, 40 years ago, fought over a planned rally by a small group of neo-Nazis in Skokie, Ill., would become one of the organization’s most notable cases, and to some, among its finest moments. The A.C.L.U. cemented its reputation for fighting for civil liberties, even, or especially, if it meant, in the words of its director at the time, “defending my enemy.” That philosophy came into renewed focus last week as the organization went to court to fight for the right of white nationalists to hold a rally at Emancipation Park in Charlottesville, Va. But the episode is likely to be remembered less for the constitutional principle than for its violent toll: brawls, ugly confrontations and the death of a 32-year-old woman. “I won’t be a fig leaf for Nazis,” a member of the A.C.L.U. of Virginia board, Waldo Jaquith, posted on Twitter, announcing that he was resigning from the organization. Among his parting messages to the organization was, “Don’t defend Nazis to allow them to kill people.” This year has been a banner one for the civil liberties group, which is expected by some on the left to serve as a legal bulwark against some of the Trump administration’s policies. Indeed, the A.C.L.U. helped secure the first court ruling against the travel ban. Membership in the group has almost quadrupled, and donations online have reached $... Link to the full article to read more