Suit Against Philadelphia Real Estate Companies for Racial Steering
Press Release
February 2, 1977

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Press Releases, Volume 4. Seek Investigation of Charleston, S.C. Telephone Service, 1967. d789f3e3-b792-ee11-be37-00224827e97b. LDF Archives, Thurgood Marshall Institute. https://ldfrecollection.org/archives/archives-search/archives-item/a8761299-a3d2-4e29-85e0-55ce3c9fde38/seek-investigation-of-charleston-sc-telephone-service. Accessed April 28, 2025.
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to: Associated Press, United Press International, N.Y.; N.Y. TIMES May 26, 1967 11 a SEEK INVESTIGATION Nv Zs OF CHARLESTON,S.C. TELEPHONE SERVICE Negro Candidates Report Delays The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) today ed the Federal Communications Commission and the American Telephone Telegraph Company to investigate circumstances around the reported delay of telephone service for Negro Political candidates in Charleston, South Carolina. Jack Greenberg, LDF director-counsel, said, "It is incredible Bell System cannot promptly fill reasonable order placed by Negro candidates for election. "I request immediate investigation to see whether this order can be filled and whether refusal is racially motivated." Complete text of Mr. Greenberg*s wire to Nicholas Johnson, chairman, Federal Communications Commission, Washington, and Benjamin S. Gilmer, president, AT&T, NYC, follows: Benjamin C. Cook, Jr., chairman, Legal Redress Committee, NAACP, Charleston, South Carolina, informs me southern Bell Telephone Company recalcitrant rendering service to committee supporting Negro candidates for election to be held June 13. He states telephone company first requested $100 deposit each line, After several weeks negotiations district manager J. K, Livingston accepted $100 deposit for all phones and stated phones would be installed May 20. On 20th or 21st a phone company representative left message saying company had no facilities to fill order. Mr. Cook made further inquiry. Thursday this week one phone was installed. Mr. Cook inquired of Mr. Stroman, general manager, about balance of order. Mr. Stroman said company would make com- plete installation immediately. Later Mr. Stroman called denying commitment stating order could not be filled. It is incredible Bell System cannot promptly fill reasonable order placed by Negro candidates for election. I request immediate invéstigation to see whether this order can be filled and whether refusal is racially motivated.