Mississippi Negroes Want Equal Municipal Services

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- f548b35e-b992-ee11-be37-00224827e97b

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Press Releases, Volume 6. Mississippi Negroes Want Equal Municipal Services, 1969. f548b35e-b992-ee11-be37-00224827e97b. LDF Archives, Thurgood Marshall Institute. https://ldfrecollection.org/archives/archives-search/archives-item/b390cfd3-a95d-45cc-bae1-3aff18f6d1f8/mississippi-negroes-want-equal-municipal-services. Accessed December 04, 2025.

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    (2 
ae 

a 

‘ President 

é Hon. Francis E. Rivers 
PRESS RELEASE Director-Counsel 

egal efense und Jack Greenberg 

NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATIONAL FUND, INC. ee eve ae 
10 Columbus Circle, New York, N.Y. 10019 * JUdson 6-8397 na NIGHT NUMBER 212-749-8487 

FOR RELEASE: March 29, 1969 

MISSISSIPPI NEGROES WANT 
EQUAL MUNICIPAL SERVICES 

LDF Attorneys Attack National Problem 

SHAW, MISS.---Black citizens went to trial this week in U.S. District 
Court, charging unequal municipal services--paved streets, street 
lights, fire hydrants and the like. 

The white side of town is provided with numerous municipal 
services. 

The black side of town does not have the same services. 

All citizens, according to NAACP Legal Defense and Educational 
Fund, Inc. (LDF) attorneys, pay taxes at the same rate. 

All municipal services are paid from the same tax source. 

The case is part of a new LDF drive attacking a problem common 
to the South and also found in varying degrees in northern cities. 

Similar suits have already been filed by LDF attorneys in 
Belzoni and Itta Bena, Mississippi. More suits are expected elsevhere. 

Black citizens in Shaw charge that town officials have: 

* paved and maintained the streets of white neighborhoods while 
refusing to pave and maintain streets in black neighborhoods; 

* refused to construct and maintain sufficient and adequate fire 
hydrants in black neighborhoods, which have fewer hydrants 
than do white neighborhoods; 

* refused to place sufficient and adequate street lighting in 
black neighborhoods while there is more and better street 
lighting in white neighborhoods; 

* refused to provide sewerage service to many residents of 
black neighborhoods while these facilities are provided all 
residents of white neighborhoods; 

* provided adequate water facilities for residents of white 
neighborhoods but refused to do so for residents of black 
neighborhoods where water pressure is substantially lower 
and inadequate, constituting an inconvenience and a danger 
to health, safety, and property. 

LDF attorneys participating in this new campaign include Reuben 
Anderson of Jackson, Miss., and Jonathan Shapiro of New York City. 

-30- 

NOTE: The LDF was established by the NAACP, but we are a completely 
separate and distinct organization, even though the initials are 
retained in our name. Our correct designation is NAACP Legal Defense 
and Educational Fund, Inc., frequently shortened to LDF. 

S25

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Mississippi Negroes Want Equal Municipal Services

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