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

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