Telegram to Hon. John Gardner, Sec. Dept. of HEW
Press Release
October 14, 1965

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Press Releases, Volume 3. Telegram to Hon. John Gardner, Sec. Dept. of HEW, 1965. 37160c59-b692-ee11-be37-00224827e97b. LDF Archives, Thurgood Marshall Institute. https://ldfrecollection.org/archives/archives-search/archives-item/9fdb5831-5ca7-48a0-a631-cdf6c0939a2e/telegram-to-hon-john-gardner-sec-dept-of-hew. Accessed June 13, 2025.
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J_ DOMESTIC SERVICE Ns INTERNATIONAL SERVICE ‘Check the class ofservicedesired: Check the class of service desired; ‘otherwise this message will be otherwise the message will be sent as a fast telegram sent at the full rate TELEGRAM =z FULL RATE 1211 (4-55) A NISHELECIER: > ia W. P. MARSHALL. presiornr SuCRESHIE f NO. WwOS-CL OF Sve.] PD. ON COLL, [GASH NO. CHARGE TO THE ACCOUNT OF 1 Time FILED ] f P LEGAL DEFENSE & EDUCATIO | | | Ee 16 “Got als CIRCLES AYE Oct. 14'6) ‘Send the following message, subject to the terms on back hereof, which are hereby agreed to Bob Baker WASHINGTON POST HONORABLE JOHN GARDNER SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION AND WELFARE WASHINGTON, D. C. THOUSANDS OF NEGRO STUDENTS ARE BEING DENIED THEIR RIGHTS BY SOUTHERN SCHOOL OFFICIALS WHO ARE NOT COMPLYING EITHER WITH THE INTENT OF TITLE VI OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OR WITH HEW'S GUIDELINES FOR IMPLEMENTING THE NONDISCRIMINATION REQUIREMENT. MANY SPECIFIC SITUATIONS WHICH CALL FOR THOROUGH PROMPT INVESTIGATION HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO THE OFFICE OF EDUCATION. WE WELCOME INFORMATION THAT THE OFFICE OF EDUCATION'S COMPLIANCE MACHINERY LONG OVERDUE HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED AND PROVIDES FOR FIELD INVESTIGATIONS, WE ARE DISTRESSED THAT NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN AGAINST BAKER COUNTY, GEORGIA, WHICH WAS INVESTIGATED OVER A MONTH AGO AND THAT INVESTIGATIONS OF CTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN GEORGIA AND ELSEWHERE _ ARE NOT PROCEEDING AS SCHEDULED, FEDERAL INACTION WHEN NONCOMPLIANCE HAS BEEN REPORTED MAKES A MOCKERY OF LAW. WE URGE YOU TO GIVE FULL SUPPORT TO A STRONG AND EPPECTIVE OOMPLIANCE PROGRAM AND TO AFFIRM PUBLICLY THAT HEW WILL VIGOROUSLY UPHOLD AND ENFORCE THE RIGHT OF NEGRO CHILDREN TO A DESEGREGATED EDUCATION, JACK GREENBERG DIRECTOR-COUNSEL NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE FUND