LDF Charges Racial Discrimination in New Bern, N.C., Public Housing

Press Release
March 4, 1966

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Press Releases, Volume 3. LDF Charges Racial Discrimination in New Bern, N.C., Public Housing, 1966. 4d5553d2-b692-ee11-be37-00224827e97b. LDF Archives, Thurgood Marshall Institute. https://ldfrecollection.org/archives/archives-search/archives-item/82ebc7b4-f2b3-4726-9c6f-6f63ae40bcc8/ldf-charges-racial-discrimination-in-new-bern-nc-public-housing. Accessed November 23, 2025.

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    10 Columbus Circle 
New York, N.Y. 10019 
JUdson 6-8397 

NAACP 

Legal Defense-and Educational Fund 
PRESS RELEASE 

*"ion.” Francie” Ee Rivers 
Director-Counsel 

err = 

Ges: ce ee 

March 4, 1966 

LDF CHARGES RACIAL DISCRIMINATION 
IN NEW BERN, N.C., PUBLIC HOUSING 

Practices Leave Women and Children Homeless 

NEW BERN, N. C. -MAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund 
attorneys today filed suit in Federal District Court here seeking 
to prohibit New Bern public housing officials from arbitrarily 
denying housing to Negroes. 

Fund lawyers contend that New Bern policies deny due process 
and equal protection of the law, violate the intent and purpose of 
Federal public housing laws and deny adequate housing to needy 
women and children. 

In a complaint filed in behalf of a group of Negro women, the 
civil rights lawyers contend New Bern public housing is segregated, 
Negroes are charged higher rents than are whites in similar 
circumstances and Negroes are denied due process of law in 
application and eviction procedures. 

The suit also seeks to enjoin officials from barring women from 
public housing because of the birth of illegitimate children. 

Named as defendants in the suit are the City of New Bern, the 
New Bern Housing Authority and the executive director and 
individual commissioners of the Housing Authority. * 

One of the plaintiffs alleges she has been denied ads 
public housing because she has had children out of wedlock 
others are facing eviction because of the birth of illeg’ 
children. 

The complaint also charges that another plaintiff ha 
told that her grandchildren, who live with her in a publi housing 
project, must either move, or she will be evicted. 5" 

Still another was evicted from a public housing project, 
after having lived there five years, because of the birth of an 
illegitimate child. Two other plaintiffs were evicted in the last 
week for the same reason. 

All the plaintiffs complain that the management of the public 
housing projects requires them tc sign leases that require 

f a them to vacate their homes, without 
opportunity for hearing, in the event of the birth of an 
illegitimate child. 

The leases may be terminated on 30 days notice by the Housing 
Authority, but tenants must give six months notice if they wish to 
move from public housing, the complaint charges. 

New Bern officials also maintain separate public housing for 
Negroes and whites, the complaint alleges, and Negroes are charged 
higher rents than are their white counterparts. 

The suit asks for a temporary restraining order and 
iminary and permanent injunctions against the practices 
lained of. “ : 
Legal Defense Puna ttorne: andli 

Levonne Chambers of Charlotte, Director- 
C, Stephen Ralston.and Charles H. Jones of New “York 

» them is Edward’ Ve Sparer, LegalsDirector ot, the Center or 
Welfare“Policy and Law, Columbia University School ot Sec‘7! Work. 

3205 

Jesse DeVore, Jr., Director of Public Inf ion—Night Number 212 Riverside 9-8487 Ss

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LDF Charges Racial Discrimination in New Bern, N.C., Public Housing

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