ANSWER/Redbaiting Statement of the NLG WHEREAS the ANSWER coalition has been subjected by some critics to unprincipled attacks based on what others perceive to be the political philosophy of some of its members; and WHEREAS we are entering a dangerous period in our history in which reactionary and establishment political forces will attempt to isolate and fragment the progressive movement; and WHEREAS the National Lawyers Guild has a proud history of working with progressive political groups and individuals representing a wide variety of political philosophies; and WHEREAS the ANSWER coalition has been actively involved in mobilizing a mass movement against war and racism; THEREFORE, be it RESOLVED: That the NLG opposes red-baiting and similar tactics of ideologically motivated negative labeling of sectors of the progressive movement; and That the NLG categorically rejects calls to "purge" the movement of progressive people who hold certain beliefs or who are members of particular parties, and recognizes such demands and divisive attacks as a real threat to an effective anti-war movement; and That the NLG will not participate in witchhunts and opposes in the strongest possible terms calls for Congressional investigations of political organizations, and stands ready to assist all who resist this new McCarthyism; and That the NLG insists that such disagreements about politics and strategy as may from time to time exist among groups in the progressive movement must be aired and resolved in an atmosphere of mutual respect and on a principled basis, with the goal of building a broad-based movement.