NAACP Legal Defense Fund Integrates 56 Fla. Parks

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Press Releases, Volume 1. NAACP Legal Defense Fund Integrates 56 Fla. Parks, 1964. c3906b48-b592-ee11-be37-00224827e97b. LDF Archives, Thurgood Marshall Institute. https://ldfrecollection.org/archives/archives-search/archives-item/486a3660-b138-49fe-8fe3-3ff867a13418/naacp-legal-defense-fund-integrates-56-fla-parks. Accessed December 06, 2025.

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    10 Columbus Circle 
New York, N.Y. 10019 
JUdson 6-8397 

NAACP 

Legal Defense and Educational Fund 
PRESS RELEASE 
President 

Dr. Allan Knight Chalmers 
Director-Counsel FOR RELEASE 

Jack Greenberg WEDNESDAY 
Associate Counsel September 23, 1964 

Constance Baker Motley 

NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE FUND. 
INTEGRATES 56 FLA. PARKS 

TALLAHASSEE---The Florida State Board of Parks was asked to 

publicize its new policy of non-discrimination this week in 

U.S. District Court by attorneys of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. 

This request followed on heels of a sweeping Legal Defense 

Fund victory opening Florida's 56 public parks and recreational 

areas to Negro citizens. 

In addition, the District Court ruled that Florida must 

cease publication and distribution of informational materials 

specifying jim crow parks and areas and to remove "white" and 

"colored" signs near the parks. 

Negro exclusion from the majority of Florida's public parks, 

long m irritant, came to widespread attention during May of 1963 

when Dr. Clarence Owens and W.O. Mack, accompanied by their 

families, sought use of Killearn Gardens Park, near Tallahassee. 

Park employees refused admission to the Negro families and 

Dr. Owens was threatened with arrest. Messers Owens and Mack 

are members of the faculty at Florida A & M University. 

They were subsequently allowed use of the park but it was 

then closed one month ahead of schedule so as to thwart de- 

segregation. ’ 

This current case, under direction of Earl M, Johnson, the 

Fund's chief attorney in Florida, has three plaintiffs. They are 

Rutledge Pearson, president of the NAACP's Florida State Con- 

ference of Branches, Robert W. Saunders, the Association's 

Florida field secretary and Quillie L. Jones, a private citizen. 

Attorney Johnson is joined by Howard M, Dixon of Miami and 

Jack Greenberg, Constance Baker Motley and Leroy D, Clark of 

the Fund's New York City headquarters. 

DeVore, Jr:, Director of Public Information—Night Number 212 Riverside 9-8487 



ALA. ASKS COURT TO ALLOW 
ANTI CIVIL RIGHTS WEAPON 

Grew From Arrest of Mrs, Dick Gregory and Others 

MONTGOMERY---Alabama this week asked its highest court to permit 

continued use of the peace bond as an anti civil rights demon- 

stration weapon, 

The state's request for a rehearing grew out of the arrest 

of Mrs. Dick Gregory and John Lewis, according to the NAACP Legal 

Defense Fund, 

This weapon, currently being sought by Alabama authorities, 

is the excessive peace bond accompanied by denial of the right to 

demonstrate, ‘a 

It has been specifically aimed at leaders of Negro demon- 

strations. 

Mrs, Gregory and Lewis, chairman of the Student Non-Violent 

Coordinating Committee and several others were arrested in Selma, 

Ala. during September, 1963 for leading demonstrations aimed at 

opening voter registration privileges to Negroes. 

They are being represented by Attorneys Norman Amaker, New 

York City; Peter Hall, Birmingham; and, James Chestnut, Jr.--- 

all of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. 

Each of the defendants in this action was required to post 

a@ peace bond of $1,000 and to “keep the peace" (no further demon- 

strations) for 12 months from date of their conviction. 

Legal Defense Fund attorneys immediately filed to secure 

their release since none had committed any offense “against the 

person or property of another person" as required by Alabama Law. 

The local circuit court ruled against the ae 

Legal Defense Fund attorneys then appealed to the Alabama 

Court of Appeals which reversed the peace bond convictions, 

The higher court agreed with the Legal Defense Fund's 

argument that the peace bond convictions violated Alabama law. 

3 Alabama applied for 4 rehearing bUt™?ts own Court of Appeals 

tejected the tactic of excessive bail bonds, and denied the 

hearing. 

(more) 



Ala. Asks Court to Allow -2- September 21, 1964 

Anti Civil Rights Weapon 

This also marked the first time that a southern court 

tuled in favor of Negroes involved in direct action demon- 

strations. 

Alabama is again asking its Supreme Court to rehear the 

cases in hopes of being able to again deter civil rights 

demonstrations with this method. 

Additional defendants are Worth Long, Wilson Brown and 

Wolff Dawson, all of "SNICK" and Benny Tucker and Will Shannon, 

local Selma residents. 

= 90 5

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NAACP Legal Defense Fund Integrates 56 Fla. Parks

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