High Court Bars Little Rock School Construction
Press Release
March 23, 1971

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Press Releases, Volume 6. High Court Bars Little Rock School Construction, 1971. cc569470-ba92-ee11-be37-00224827e97b. LDF Archives, Thurgood Marshall Institute. https://ldfrecollection.org/archives/archives-search/archives-item/47b3479b-2d11-4a49-98bf-e5e5204cb777/high-court-bars-little-rock-school-construction. Accessed October 09, 2025.
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ressRelease B ae ae Sa March 23, 1971 For Immediate Release HIGH COURT BARS LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION Wash, D.C. --- In an 8-0 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court yesterday (3/22) eniainel the Little Rock, Arkansas Board of Education from completing expansion of a school Jocated in an all-white section of the city. The injunction had been sought by NAACP Legal Defense and Evlucational Fund, Inc. (LDF) attorneys on behalf of black plaintiffs. It was the first time the Supreme Court has ruled on the matter of school construction as it affects school desegregation efforts. Earlier, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals had granted a similar injunction conditioned on plaintiffs' posting a $25,000 cash bond against possible damages to the school board caused by the delay. When plaintiffs attested to the fact that they were financially unable to procure the bond, the Eighth Circuit lifted its injunction and construction was resumed. Tue injunction against Little Rock will remain in effect until the Eighth Circuit rules on an appropriate schoo] desegregation plan for that school district. Blacks are presently challenging a district-court-approved plan charging that it is objectionable because it places the greatest burden of desegregation on blacks. Tie expansion of Henderson Junior High School was part of this plan. The enlarged facility would have been located in a white area and blacks would have had to be bussed to the school to effect the desired integration. Tle black plaintiffs feel that a new facility should be built, between white and black neighborhoods, to supplement the inadequate Henderson Junior Nigh, and that this would be the most equitable way to attain school desegregation. LDF attorneys representing the plaintiffs are John Walker and Philip Kaplan of Little Rock, and Charles Kalston and Norman Chachkin of the Fund's New York City headquarters. -30- For Firther Information: Charles Ralston or ) Norman Chachkin ) 212-586-8397 |AACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, Inc. | 10 Columbus Circle | New York, N.Y. 10019 | (212) 586-8397 illiam T, Coleman, Jr. - President Jack Greenberg - Director-Counsel