Top Links Attend Rights Seminar in New York City
Press Release
July 22, 1964
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Press Releases, Volume 1. Top Links Attend Rights Seminar in New York City, 1964. 6afe8b16-b592-ee11-be37-00224827e97b. LDF Archives, Thurgood Marshall Institute. https://ldfrecollection.org/archives/archives-search/archives-item/4bed5a67-d8ed-49dc-b1c9-b34fa40f2207/top-links-attend-rights-seminar-in-new-york-city. Accessed November 23, 2025.
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NAACP
Legal Defense and Educational Fund
PRESS RELEASE
President
Dr. Allan Knight Chalmers July 22, 1964
Director-Counsel
ack Greenberg
Associate Counsel
Constance Baker Motley
TOP LINKS ATTEND ‘RIGHTS
SEMINAR IN NEW YORK CITY
Pledge $75,000.00 to NAACP Legal Defense Fund
NEW YORK, N.Y.--An all day briefing seminar on the legal phase
of the civil rights movement was held here today at NAACP
Legal Defense Fund headquarters for 13 key national officers
of the Links, Inc.
The sessions, conducted by legal experts on the Fund's
staff, were designed to give top leaders of the Links first
hand knowledge of the Fund's program.
Links delegates, at the noted civic group's recent Nassau
convention, voted a $75,000.00 contribution over a three year
period to underwrite the work of the Legal Defense Fund.
The Fund, which serves as the legal arm of the entire
civil rights movement, last year took 30 cases to the Supreme
Court; defended more than 11,000 demonstrators; and argued
168 separate groups of legal actions in 15 states,
These ran the gamut of schools, medical services, public
facilities, recreation, employment and housing.
Founded by the NAACP in 1939, the Fund now functions in-
dependently of any civil rights organization, although it still
maintains close association with the NAACP,
Its attorneys defend Martin Luther King and his associates,
members of CORE, SNICK, the NAACP and others seeking civil
rights.
Mrs. Vivian J. Beamon, Cincinnati, Ohio, national presi-
dent of the Links, announced appointment of Mrs. Eula Trigg
of Washington, D.C. as coordinator of the campaign,
(more)
Jesse DeVore, Jr., Director of Public Information—Night Number 212 Riverside 9-8487 SO
Top Links Attend 'Rights 2+ July 22, 1964
Seminar in New York City
This project has been named the Links, Inc. Fund for
Legal Defense and Education.
The seminar was called by Jack Greenberg, director-counsel
and Constance Baker Motley, associate counsel of the Fund,
It was coordinated by Dr. John W. Davis, director, teacher
information and security, who will serve as liaison between
the Links and the Legal Defense Fund.
The seminar was greeted by Director-Counsel Greenberg. Dr.
Davis, who served as chairman, introduced Gustav Heningburg,
assistant to the president, who lectured on public relations
facets of the movement.
Assistant Counsel Frank Heffron outlined the Fund's drive
against the death perslty for rape, since southern states
almost exclusively reserve this fate for Negroes.
Michael Meltsner, assistant counsel, described the Fund's
Campaign to end disczimination in 2,000 hospitals and medical
facilities throughout the south.
Tne Fund has already won a major Supreme Court victory in
this area and is pressing the drive.
Assistant Ccunsei Norman Amaker discussed workings of the
Civil Rights Act of 1954. Mr. Amaker recently authored an
article on the ssme subject for the Nation magezine.
Miss Marian Weigut, one of the Fund's first legal interns,
reported on the M:ss*3cippi Freedom Summer project, which is
being backed by Fund attorneys.
Miss Inez Smith, on leave from the Fund's staff, also
participated. Miss Smith is currently tezching criminal law
at the National College of Law and Administration, Leopoldville,
the Congo, Central Africa.
Mrs. Motley addressed a small luncheon in the Nassau Suite
of the New York Hilton at Rockefeller Center, in which she out-
linec new legal methods employed by Fund attorneys under the
new civil rights act.
(more)