Seek Investigation of Charleston, S.C. Telephone Service

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Date is approximate.

LDF Attorneys
Cooperating Attorney
- Leslie J. Winner
Organization
- NAACP Legal and Educational Defense Fund, Inc.
Matter
- Gingles
Case
- Thornburg v. Gingles
U.S. state
- North Carolina
Collection
- Case Files
Taxonomy
Identifier
- f68bde2e-dc92-ee11-be37-6045bdeb8873

Cite this item

Press Releases, Volume 4. Seek Investigation of Charleston, S.C. Telephone Service, 1967. 1b8af3e3-b792-ee11-be37-00224827e97b. LDF Archives, Thurgood Marshall Institute. https://ldfrecollection.org/archives/archives-search/archives-item/b0b31b17-bdd0-4429-9763-5a8a90e836a3/seek-investigation-of-charleston-sc-telephone-service. Accessed August 19, 2025.

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    President 
Hon. Francis E. Rivers 

PRESS RELEASE Director-Counsel 
Jack Greenberg i 1 ome efense und 

i Director, Public Relations 
NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATIONAL FUND, INC. J DeV. 
10 Columbus Circle, New York, N.Y. 10019 * JUdson 6-8397 an 2a ater ees 

June l, 

SEEK INVESTIGATION 
OF CHARLESTON, S.C. 
TELEPHONE SERVICE 

Negro Candidates Report Delays 

The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) last week 
asked the Federal Communications Commission and the American Telephone 
and Telegraph Company to investigate circumstances around the reported 
delay of telephone service for Negro political candidates in Charleston, 
South Carolina, 

Jack Greenberg, LDF director-counsel, said, "It is incredible 
Bell System cannot promptly fill reasonable order placed by Negro 
candidates for election, 

"I request immediate investigation to see whether this order can 
be filled and whether refusal is racially motivated." 

Complete text of Mr. Greenberg's wire to Nicholas Johnson, 
chairman, Federal Communications Commission, Washington, and Benjamin 
S, Gilmer, president, AT&T, New York City, follows: 

Benjamin C. Cook, Jr., chairman, Legal Redress Committee, 
NAACP, Charleston, South Carolina, informs me southern Bell 
Telephone Company recalcitrant rendering service to committee 
supporting Negro candidates for election to be held June 13, 
He states telephone company first requested $100 deposit each 
line. After several weeks negotiations district manager 
J. K, Livingston accepted $100 deposit for all phones and 
stated phones would be installed May 20. On 20th or 21st 
a phone company representative left message saying company 
had no facilities to fill order, Mr. Cook made further 
inquiry. Thursday this week one phone was installed. 
Mr, Cook inquired of Mr, Stroman, general manager, about 
balance of order, Mr. Stroman said company would make com- 
plete installation immediately, Later Mr. Stroman called 
denying commitment stating order could not be filled. It 
is incredible Bell System cannot promptly fill reasonable 
order placed by Negro candidates for election. I request 
immediate investigation to see whether this order can be 
filled and whether refusal is racially motivated,

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Matter

Case

U.S. state

Collection

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