Fund Asks Federal Court Order to Halt Raleigh Hospital Bias
Press Release
February 17, 1966
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Press Releases, Volume 3. Fund Asks Federal Court Order to Halt Raleigh Hospital Bias, 1966. 4e9f14c0-b692-ee11-be37-00224827e97b. LDF Archives, Thurgood Marshall Institute. https://ldfrecollection.org/archives/archives-search/archives-item/7ac349ff-57b2-4fa7-9e8b-7b3d3703c463/fund-asks-federal-court-order-to-halt-raleigh-hospital-bias. Accessed November 23, 2025.
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10 Columbus Circle
New York, N.Y. 10019
JUdson 6-8397
Legal Defense and Educational Fund
PRESS RELEASE
aa. Francis E. Rivers
Directo
Jack Greenberg
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday,
February 17, 1966
FUND ASKS FEDER
TO HALT RALEIG
AL COURT ORDER
HOSPITAL BIAS
RALEIGH, N. C.---Attorneys for the NAACP Legal Defense and Educa-
tional Fund filed suit in Federal District Court here Wednesday,
(Feb. 16) seeking to permanently enjoin Wake County Memorial
Hospital from discriminating against Negroes.
The suit, filed in behalf of eight Raleigh citizens, including
two white ministers, charges that the hospital maintains a separate
wing for Negro patients.
Negro personnel is generally used only to staff the Negro
wards, the suit alleges.
The hospital's main facility in Raleigh, as well as branches in
other parts of the county are. cited in the complaint.
The complaint charges that the hospital has received more than
$3 mllion in federal funds for new construction under the Hill-
Burton Act.
Federal courts have held that facilities receiving Hill-Burton
funds may nat practice racial discrimination.
The suit further allege a that the hospital is receiving
federal funds for welfare administration, has received "substantial
funds" from Wake County, the City of Raleigh and the State of
North Carolina and is exempt from state and local taxes.
Legal Defense Fund attorneys contend that discrimination in 3
facility built and operated with public funds violates the Due
Process and Equal Protection Clauses of the 14th Amendment, and the
Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment to the U. S, Constitution.
Legal Defense Fund lawyers in the case are Samuel S, Mitchell
and Romallus 0, Murphy of Raleigh, Conrad O, Pearson of Durham,
J. Levonne Chambers of Charlotte, Fund Director-Counsel Jack
Greenberg and Michael Meltsner, both of New York.
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Jesse DeVore, Jr., Director of Public Infor ion—Night Number 212 Riverside 9-8487 Se