Greenberg's Policy Statement
Press Release
November 30, 1965

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Press Releases, Volume 3. Greenberg's Policy Statement, 1965. 4a7d4b7d-b692-ee11-be37-00224827e97b. LDF Archives, Thurgood Marshall Institute. https://ldfrecollection.org/archives/archives-search/archives-item/76af4e40-e91a-43a5-b6e5-2769aecac15c/greenbergs-policy-statement. Accessed August 19, 2025.
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Statement by Jack Greenberg, director-counsel NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc, November 30, 1965 POLICY STATEMENT The Legal Defense and Educational Fund has filed this case to require the State of Califo to assign adequate legal representation to the thousands of persons arrested during the Watts. rioting. There is no doubt that an indeterminate number Of Watts defendants are innocent of charges placed against them, and will net receive the kind of representation which the United sStates Constitution guarantees to all defendants, rich or poor, Necro of white, Minnocent or guilty. BeGause the Watts tragedy arose out of an inextricable combination of racial discrimination and poverty and neglect by the ‘community at large, this case is important for it seeks to require California to stop turning its back on those residents of Watts now in the toils of the law. The suit calls upon the State to assure adequate representation prior to trial instead of--as is usual--asking was not effective.