A warning from the past: The Rosenberg case

On June 19th^th In 1953, Julius Rosenberg and Ethel Greenglass Rosenberg became the only American citizens to be executed under the Espionage Act. In a case of government conspiracies, the Rosenberg case sparked nationwide controversy, some of which persists today.

In her documentary heir to an executionIvy Meeropol, the granddaughter of the notorious Rosenbergs, tries to shed light on her grandparents’ plight.

As she struggles to understand her grandparents’ choices, Ivy embarks on a heartbreaking journey through both sides of her family, the GreengGirls and the Rosenbergs, who later changed their name to the Roberts as a result of the case. What she discovers is disturbing; Although Julius has been shown to have leaked secrets to the Soviet Union during World War II, there is little evidence that he gave them the secrets of the atomic bomb. Worse still, Ethel Rosenberg was executed along with her husband despite her minimal involvement in espionage.

The only real villain in Meeropol’s history, David Greenglass was responsible for the unjust death of his sister Ethel. Under pressure to testify against his sister and brother-in-law, Greenglass betrayed Ethel and sentenced her to death. He originally claimed to have given Julius information on a New York street corner, but at the behest of prosecutors changed his account. His new, embellished version stated that he had given Julius classified information at her apartment and charged Ethel as her husband’s typist. Greenglass later admitted to falsifying his testimony, stating that it was actually his own wife who typed the classified documents. In order to protect his wife from criminal prosecution, Greenglass proved himself a “willing collaborator in government machinations” and watched as his sister was unjustly executed (quote from Michael Meeropol, heir to an execution).

In post-World War II America, communism played a polarizing role in society. Some, like the Rosenbergs and their accomplice Morton Sobell, were drawn to the Popular Front after witnessing the crippling poverty and racism that continually plagued the United States. Others, like Senator Joseph McCarthy, viewed Communism as a plague that must be eradicated for just democracy to survive. Ethel, and to a lesser extent Julius, were seized by this anti-Communist passion and paid the ultimate price for their political beliefs. In the Rosenberg case, the American government acted out of fear and allowed political hatred to replace justice.

Almost 65 years later, it is quite clear that the government “did everything you would not expect a democracy to do” in allowing Ethel Rosenberg’s execution (quote by Miriam Moskowitz, heir to an execution). Following the public disclosure of the Venona cables in 1995, it became apparent that Ethel was only charged with Julius so the government could use her life as leverage against Julius and force him to reveal the names of other traitors. However, both Ethel and Julius remained true to their cause and refused to betray their comrades or each other. By refusing to testify against her husband, Ethel made the painful decision to abandon her sons, Michael and Robert, and die at her husband’s side.

The Red Scare and the injustices of the 1950s may seem detached from modern American politics, but they have never been more relevant. While the Rosenbergs lived under the persecution of McCarthyism, we now live under the constant threat of the Patriot Act. Buzzwords like “communism” have been replaced by newer, creepier terms like “terrorism” and “Islamic fundamentalism.” But the general idea is still the same; As long as people have something to fear, they will turn a blind eye to the injustices their government has committed in the interests of national security.

In fact, our situation can be considered more dangerous than that of the 1950s. Our President can (and probably does) use executive power to kill anyone he deems a threat to national security without one try. We, as Americans, need to ask more of our government. We must expect a greater level of transparency from our government and warn from the past so that justice can be guaranteed for all citizens.

With that mentality, people like Julian Assange need to be commended, not condemned as “high-tech terrorists.” By releasing documents about American operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay, Assange gave Americans access to the information they have a right to know. Likewise, Edward Snowden should not be viewed as a traitor because he was able to show exactly how much the government is doing without our knowledge. Snowden raised the question – exactly how much government secrecy and mass surveillance is necessary to protect national security?

With the militarization of the police force and the installation of myriad public surveillance systems across the country, it seems like American civil liberties are diminishing by the day. Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, like their children and relatives, suffered greatly from the political climate of 1950s America. Now that we are dealing with problems similar to those of the 1950’s, our nation is on the verge of making history repeat itself. We must not allow public fear, whether of communism or terrorism, to once again replace justice.