Legal Defense Fund Files 12 Complaints Charging Discrimination in Hospitals
Press Release
July 15, 1965

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Press Releases, Volume 2. Legal Defense Fund Files 12 Complaints Charging Discrimination in Hospitals, 1965. 75c4ca16-b692-ee11-be37-00224827e97b. LDF Archives, Thurgood Marshall Institute. https://ldfrecollection.org/archives/archives-search/archives-item/38fa06a1-6fe9-4186-addb-487fc6695aef/legal-defense-fund-files-12-complaints-charging-discrimination-in-hospitals. Accessed May 16, 2025.
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vy 10 Columbus Circle New York, N.Y. 10019 Wdson 6-8397 NAACP Legal Defense and-Educational Fund PRESS RELEASE ails FOR RELEASE Dr. Allan Knight Chalmers Thursday, Director-Counsel July 15, 1965 lack Greenberg LEGAL DEFENSE FUND FILES 12 COMPLAINTS CHARGING DISCRIMINATION IN HOSPITALS New Complaints Bring Total to 110 Filed to Date WASHINGTON, D, C,--The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund and the NAACP today filed complaints charging 12 federally assisted hospitals in six southern states with discriminatory practices. The complaints, filed against hospitals in Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, North Carolina, Georgia and Florida, make a total of 110 such complaints filed with Anthony J, Celebrezze, secretary of Health, Education and Welfare, by the two organizations since February. In a letter to Mr. Celebrezze, Jack Greenberg, Legal Defense Fund director-counsel, and J, Francis Pohlhaus, NAACP Washingto Bureau counsel, asked "that appropriateaction be taken to insure immediate compliance with the nondiscrimination provisions of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964,." Under the law, federal funds could be withheld from facilities that practice discrimination. The NAACP and the Legal Defense Fund, an independent organization, represent individuals who have encountered discrim- ination in the hospitals. One facility, St. David's Hospital, Austin, Texas, is charged with excluding Negro professional workers from its staff, and with refusing to treat Negro patients. Dauterive Hospital, New Iberia, Louisiana, allegedly will give emergency treatment to Negroes, but thereafter transfers them to another hospital. No Negro has ever been knowingly admitted to the facility, the complaint states. (more) Jesse DeVore, Jr., Director of Public Information—Night Number 212 RIverside 9-8487 aoe ‘Legal, Defense Fund’ Files 12 Complaints Charging eee tienes ron in Hospitals z Other hospitals are charged with-maintaining segregated wards, ' wings and floors, segregated lounges, dining facilities, rest rooms and Mek ting offices and refusal to hire Negro professtonaimammtoyee and 2 GRR 3 i THe 12 hospitals named in the complaints are: Union County and Warner Brown Hospitals, ElDorado, Arkansas; St. David's Hospital, Austing Texas; Dauterive and Iberia Parish Hodbitals, New Iberiay Louisiana, and Lasalette Hospital, Loreau, Houtsi ana; Also, Northern Surrey Hospital, Mount Airy, North rolina; Baldwin County Hospital, Milledgeville, Georgia; Hutche son Memorial Tri-County Hospital, Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia; Peicasseus Cameron Hospital, Sulpher, Louisiana; Bay Memorial Hospital; * Panama City, Florida, and Henderson County Hospital, Trinidad, Texas. -30- 3