Undoubtedly, the Fourth of July looks and feels a bit different this year (and we’re not just referring to unbridled AI usage and the current heatwave), particularly compared to 1963.

While some similarities of the sentiment surrounding the holiday as recalled by the Greenpoint Weekly Star remain—particularly regarding their words about “diverse people from all around the world living and prospering [sic] together,”—much has changed since “the age of the hydrogen bomb” (in the Star‘s words, again).

And one of the big differences is regarding freedom, and who freedom is truly for. Today, we grapple with government agencies detaining and disappearing citizens and splitting families, charges being brought onto people spotted at protests or saying things on the Internet, and numerous human rights rollbacks (and attempted rollbacks) at the federal level.

And according to the Star, what particualr freedom was under siege in 1963? The freedom to consume pornography. Following the election of Gerald J. Cardinal to grand knighthood of the Don Bosco Council 4960 of the Knights of Columbus, he organized a concerted crackdown on “smut, pornographic literature, and indecent movies” in Greenpoint.

“This is the first on my list of things to get done. We intend to launch an all-out campaign against this filth,” Cardinal said.

It was not specified where, for who, or exactly how this crackdown would proceed, or what more specific materials he was referring to (though we’re guessing the hockey smut and spicy romantasy of today would likely be on the chopping block), but the Star did make sure to note that Cardinal was 5’1″ and 200 pounds.

Anyway, have a safe and hopefully not-indecent Fourth of July, everyone!