Who were the friendly witnesses?

The "friendly witnesses" were a group of individuals who testified in support of the Hollywood Ten during the 1947 House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) hearings. These witnesses, including prominent figures from the film industry, aimed to defend the First Amendment rights of the accused screenwriters and directors who refused to answer questions about their political beliefs. Their testimonies highlighted the threat to artistic freedom and civil liberties posed by the anti-communist fervor of the time.