First Local Y.M.C.A. Sued for Racial Bias

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- Press Releases
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- 621321b5-b592-ee11-be37-00224827e97b

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Press Releases, Volume 2. First Local Y.M.C.A. Sued for Racial Bias, 1965. 621321b5-b592-ee11-be37-00224827e97b. LDF Archives, Thurgood Marshall Institute. https://ldfrecollection.org/archives/archives-search/archives-item/514faa6b-6ff6-4773-8db1-4786c3aee879/first-local-ymca-sued-for-racial-bias. Accessed May 14, 2025.

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10 Columbus Circle
New York, N.Y. 10019 Z
JUdson 6.8397 jee

NAACP

Legal Defense and Educational Fund
PRESS RELEASE FOR RELEASE

PDE AllauKnisht Chalmers ee usesy February 20, 1965

Associate Counsel

Coretance Bake Motley
FIRST LOCAL Y.M.C.A.
SUED FOR RACIAL BIAS

Legal Defense Fund Attorneys Cite Civil Rights Act

CHARLOTTE, N.C.---In the first legal action against a YMCA, the

NAACP Legal Defense Fund moved against what it alleges to be

"discrimination" in the policies and practices of the Charlotte

Young Men's Chstetian Association (YMCA).

The complaint was filed with the U.S. District Court for the

Western District of North Carolina, today (February 19, 1965).

The litigation is of an ususual nature. In spite of its

generally favorable national reputation, a local branch of the YMCA

is having charges of racial discrimination leveled against its

operation for the first time.

Also, the complaint seeks to bring the public and private

facilities of a membership organization under the control of the

public accommodations section of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

The Legal Defense Fund is acting on a complaint by Thomas

Lassister, of Kansas City, Mo., and Dr. Reginald A. Hawkins, Sr. and

his son, Reginald, Jr., of Charlotte.

Contacted in New York, a source at the YMCA's National Council,

who asked not to be quoted by name, confirmed the fact that there

is widespread discrimination in the South's network of YMCA branches.

He explained that the National Council of the YMCA, primarily

a service operation, has a clearly stated policy against any kind of

discrimination.

However, the National Council is dependent on various

autonomous branches for financial support.

NONETHELESS, NAACP Legal Defense Fund attorney, J. LeVonne

Chambers, of Charlotte, has charged the Charlotte YMCA with

discriminating against Negroes seeking “enjoyment of the services,

facilities, privileges, advantages and accommodations" of the branch,

The complaint names YMCA officials J. Caldwell McDonaid ‘ Geosge E.
mmons.

Jesse DeVore, Jr., Director of Public Information—Night Number 212 Rlverside 9-8487 Se 3)

First Local YMCA February 20, 1965

Sued For Racial Bias

All of the plaintiffs have accused the YMCA of various "jim

crow" actions or denial of service on the part of the YMCA, They

claim there is one "Y" for colored and another "Y" for white,

Kee

The Federal District Court has not set a date for a hearing.

This is the second complaint or racial discrimination filed

in behalf of Dr, Reginald Hawkins in recent months. Presently, he is

awaiting a decision from the 4th District Court of Appeals on his

request to be admitted to the all white North Carolina Dental

Society. Legal Defense Fund Director-Counsel, Jack Greenberg argued

the case before the Court.

In connection with his civil rights activities, Dr. Hawkins

was named "Dentist of the Year" by the National Dental Association,

a predominately Negro group.

Other Legal Defense Fund attorneys representing the plaintiffs

are Conrad 0, Pearson, Durham, N.C., Thomas H,. Wyche, Charlotte, and

Mr. Greenberg and Michael Meltsner, New York City.

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First Local Y.M.C.A. Sued for Racial Bias

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