LDF Claims Bias by Electrical Workers
Press Release
November 2, 1967

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Press Releases, Volume 5. LDF Claims Bias by Electrical Workers, 1967. 9a055233-b892-ee11-be37-00224827e97b. LDF Archives, Thurgood Marshall Institute. https://ldfrecollection.org/archives/archives-search/archives-item/474d9374-83be-4d06-9b25-4e887b16a412/ldf-claims-bias-by-electrical-workers. Accessed July 06, 2025.
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Prefion. Francis E- Rivera PRESS RELEASE Director-Counsel egal refense und Jack Greenberg Director, Public Relations NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATIONAL FUND, INC. Jesse DeVore, Jr. 10 Columbus Circle, New York, N.Y. 10019 * JUdson 6-8397 FOR RELEASE ee 48 Pa NIGHT NUMBER 212-749-8487 THURSDAY November 2, 1967 LDF CLAIMS BIAS BY ELECTRICAL WORKERS AFL-CIO Affiliate Is Cited BIRMINGHAM---A local Negro, who is a licensed electrician, today askea the U.S. District Court here to order his admittance to Local 136, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, AFL-CIO. Plaintiff Arnett Banks is being represented by attorneys of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF). Mr. Banks, through the LDF, is asking for a preliminary and permanent injunction to stop Local 136 "from continuing to maintain its policy and practice of denying membership to persons because of race and color." The LDF complaint alleges "that there are no Negro persons who are members of Local 136." It further asserts that Local 196's "policy and practice is violative of rights secured by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964." Mr. Banks, who is presently a self-employed electrician, has been licensed by Birmingham's Board of Electrical Examiners, as a journey- man electrician. He also qualified in other ways, the LDF maintains, "for membership in Local 136," which he attempted to join in April of 1965. His ten dollar application fee was accepted. However, he was told three months later that his application was rejected. Mr. Banks then filed a charge of discrimination with the Equal Employ- ment Opportunity Commission alleging violation of his rights under Title VII. EEOC subsequently found "reasonable cause to believe that the charge of discrimination against Local 136 is true," following failure of conciliation. LDF attorneys point out that "neither Alabama nor the city of Birming ham has a law prohibiting the unlawful employment practices alleged" by the complaint. Attorney Oscar Adams, 1630 Fourth Avenue North, Birmingham, is joined by LDF New York based lawyers Jack Greenberg, director-counsel, Robert Belton and Gabrielle A. Kirk in this action. =G0= NOTE: The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) is a separate and distinct organization from the NAACP, serving as the legal arm of the entire civil rights movement and representing mem- bers of all groups as well as unaffiliated individuals.