Greenberg's Policy Statement

Press Release
November 30, 1965

Greenberg's Policy Statement preview

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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.

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