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 July 30, 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