Reply of LDF to Resolution of NAACP Convention Re: Use of "NAACP" by LDF in Name

    =) 5 | NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATIONAL FUND, INC. 
efense amd 10 Columbus Circle, New York, N.Y. 10019 ¢ (212) 586-8397 

NEW YORK, N.Y. -- June 25, 1979 

The N.A.A.C.P. Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. 

has been our name for 40 years. It is the name under which we 

have won hundreds of Supreme Court victories and thousands of 

cases in lower courts which have achieved equality for black 

Americans. The Legal Defense Fund's team has worked together 

for many decades. Director-Counsel Jack Greenberg has been on 

the staff for 30 years; Associate Counsel James M. Nabrit, III 

for 20 years; Board Chairman William T. Coleman, Jr. has been 

associated with the Legal Defense Fund for almost 30 years and 

Board President Julius L. Chambers for almost 20 years. About 

two years ago a new administration at the National Association 

for the Advancement of Colored People replaced Roy Wilkins and 

a virtually completely new staff has replaced those who worked 

with him. We have offered close cooperation with them but they 

have rebuffed us. We do not understand why they have attacked 

us. We prefer to continue working on our docket of hundreds of 

cases involving discrimination in schools, employment, housing, 

prisoners' rights, capital punishment, health care and voting. 

We also prefer to continue with our scholarship program which 

has helped 1,100 black law students through law school. 

Contributions are deductible for U.S. income tax purposes 

The NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE & JONAL FUND is not cart of the National Association for the Advancement of Col 
was founded by it and shares its itment to equal rights. LOF kas had for over 20 years a separate Board, pregram, 

id Peoole although it 
office and budget. 



LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY -- June 25, 1979 

Whereas, notwithstanding numerous consultations and 

efforts initiated by the National Board of Directors of the 

N.A.A.C.P., the Legal Defense and Educational Fund has pursued 

an independent course of action in the name of the N.A.A.C.P. 

but without consultation with the N.A.A.C.P. as to either 

policy or program; it disclaims any relationship with the 

N.A.A.C.P. Legal Defense Fund; it unilaterally adopted new 

rules for processing litigation and does not accept a request 

for legal assistance from N.A.A.C.P. local units; it has insti- 

tuted legal actions without the knowledge and, in some instances, 

with the objections of the local N.A.A.C.P. units to the detri- 

ment of N.A.A.C.P. program and policy and confusion of the 

public; 

And whereas there is a studied effort which seems to be 

escalating on the part of some L.D.F. officials to revise history 

and portray L.D.F. as the moving force of Brown v-. Board of 

Education when it was only a subordinate, supporting arm of the 

N.A.A.C.P. at the time of the Brown decision; 

Now, therefore, be it resolved that the 70th Annual Con- 

vention of the N.A.A.C.P. convened in Louisville, Kentucky, 

June 25-29, 1979, hereby calls upon and directs the National 

Board of Directors of the N.A.A.C.P., by appropriate resolution, 

to withdraw and revoke permission previously granted to the 

N.A.A.C.P. Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. for the use 

of the initials "N.A.A.C.P." in its name, publications, publicity, 

activities and solicitations.