Goldstein was born in Yurburg, in the Kovno Governorate of the Russian Empire (present-day Lithuania), a town with a heavily Jewish population dating back to the 14th century.
[10] In an intentionally provocative declaration in February 1977, Collin announced that he and as many as 50 NSPA supporters in neo-Nazi uniform and displaying swastikas were going to assemble in front of the Skokie Village Hall.
[11] The Village of Skokie attempted to prevent the assembly in the town by requiring a $350,000 bond and other actions, moves opposed by Collin and the Illinois Division of the American Civil Liberties Union.
"[12] Goldstein – who said he expected 50,000 people to attend a counter-demonstration to any NSPA rally in Skokie[13] – soon became known as the one who was leading "the fight to stop American Nazis from marching in the Chicago suburb.
[20] Meanwhile, the JUF argued that 81 of 82 board members supported its legal action against the Goldstein estate,[21] though opinion in the Jewish community overwhelmingly disapproved of its stance.