Event

Judgment at Nuremberg

This powerful play by Abby Mann explores the choices that confront those charged with responsibility for law and justice, when a country seized by fear turns for salvation to a "leader" who cares nothing for human dignity, human rights, democracy or the rule of law.

"Fear of today, fear of tomorrow, fear of our neighbors, fear of ourselves" - these words, spoken from the stand by the tragic figure of defendant Ernst Janning, resonate today for our own country. "Make America great again!" "Expel the devils amongst us, the immigrants, the Muslims!" Events since the watershed moment of November 8, 2016 should awaken us all to the dangers of fascism, and perhaps worse than fascism, which have been let loose in the United States.

Directed by Gordon Coffey, produced (and featuring performances by) Coffey, Theodore Deacon and Mike King, this staged reading will be followed by a community discussion - not to be missed! King is an appellate lawyer, and other featured performers include retired Court of Appeals judge Ken Grosse, retired King County Superior Court judge Robert Alsdorf, and sitting King County Superior Court judges John Erlick and Holly Hill.

"What difference does it make if a few political extremists lose their rights? What difference does it make if a few racial minorities lose their rights? It is only a passing phase. It is only a stage we are going through. It will be discarded sooner or later. Hitler himself will be discarded, sooner or later. The country is in danger! We will march out of the shadows! We will go forward! Forward is the great password! ...And then one day we looked around, and found that we were in an even more terrible danger. ...What was going to be a passing phase had become the way of life." (Ernst Janning)