Rights Attorneys Say HEW Lets Southern Hospitals Flaunt 1964 Civil Rights Act

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NAACP 

Legal Defense and Educational Fund 
PRESS RELEASE 

President 
Dr. Allan Knight Chalmers FOR RELEASE 

Director-Counsel A, 

Jack Greenberg Ko Oe 1965 

‘RIGHTS ATTORNEYS SAY HEW LETS 
SOUTHERN HOSPITALS FLAUNT 
1964 CIVIL RIGHTS ACT 

WASHINGTON~-The Department of Health, Education and Welfare has been 

charged by two major civil rights organizations, with having led 

many southern hospitals to conclude that Title VI of the 1964 

Civil Rights Act "is only a paper tiger." 

Jack Greenberg, cirector-counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense 

and Educational Fund, Inc., and Frank Pohlhaus, counsel of the 

NAACP's Washington Bureau have filed over 100 complaints of racial 

discrimination in federally assisted hospitals and other medical 

facilities since February, 1965 with HEW, oe 

To date, the two organizations charge that HEW "has fine onty 

twenty of these facilities in compliance with Title VI." bs 

They add that HEW has taken no action on the remaining 

complaints "despite the fact that many of these facilities have 

been investigated and reinvestigated by HEW and have refused and 

are refusing to end discrimination against Negroes." 

The Legal Defense Fund and the NAACP charge that the Depart- 

ment's obligation under law is clear: 

"It is to cut off federal funds from such hospitals that do not 

provide equal treatment to Negroes." 

Legal Defense Fund Assistant Counsel Michael Meltsner, who 

lodged this most recent charge against HEW, singled out King's 

Daughters Hospital in Canton, Mississippi as a flagrant example, 

This hospital "is not only refusing to comply with Title VI, 

but it has, subsequent to our complaint, reduced the number of beds 

in the hospital so that no Negroes and whites would have to share 

rooms. 

(more) 

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



"Rights Attorneys Say HEW Lets -2- August 23, 1965 
Southern Hospitals Flaunt 
1964 Civil Rights Act 

age 

"Ironically," Mr, Meltsner continues, "this hospital continues: 

to receive funds from the Department to finance future expansion ¥ 

of its facilities." 

Pd The attorney asked to learn of HEW's intentions in this case 

which is "only one of many." 

j -30- 
¥ 

“M 
FE Full text of Mr. Meltsner'’s letter follows: : ¥ 

Mr, James Quigley, Assistant Secretary 
Department of Health, Education and Welfare 
Washington, D, C,. 

Dear Mr. Quigley: 

=. The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc., and the 
CP, through its Washington Bureau, have brought to the attention 

of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare over 100 ‘ 
complaints of racial discrimination in federally assisted hospitals 
ang other medical facilities since February 1965. To date, the 
DePartment has found only about twenty (20) of these facilities in 
Sages with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, No 
ction has been taken with respect to the remainder despite the 

»fact that many of these facilities have been investigated and re- 
investigated by the Department and have refused and are refusing 
to end discrimination against Negroes. 

The Department's obligation under law is clear. It is to 
cut off federal funds from such hospitals as do not provide equal 
“treatment to Negroes. Indeed, the continued failure of the 
“Department to act to cut off funds has permitted many institutions 

o conclude that Title VI of the Civil Rights Act is only a paper 
tiger. 
 : } 
ug For example, one of the hospitals we complained about 4 
February 11, 1965, the King's Daughters Hospital in Canton, 
Mississippi, is not only refusing to comply with Title VI, but it 4 
has, subsequent to our complaint, reduced the number of beds in the 
hospital so that no Negroes and whites would have to share room 
Ironically, the hospital continues to receive funds from th 
Department to finance future expansion of its facilities. 
like to know what position the Department is taking as to th 
egntinued receipt of funds by this hospital, and desire to 
€Gpies of such reports which your investigators have made r 
this hospital. 

The King's Daughters Hospital, however, is only one ca 
ng many. Numerous other hospitals about which we have ¢on 

&égntinue to receive millions of federal dollars, notwithstanding 
c ersistence of blatant discrimination against Negroes which | 
‘vioiltes federal law. hin 

* ~ pte. i ne 

— Bh! 

(more) 



"Rights Attorneys Say HEW Lets -3- August 23, 1965 
Southern Hospitals Flaunt 
1964 Civil Rights Act 

As we repnesent individuals subject to discrimination at 
these hospitals, we wish to know the reasons why the Department 
has taken no action to deny federal funds to facilities which 
continue to discriminate after attempts to obtain voluntary 
compliance have failed, In order that we may protect the) rights 
of these individuals, we also wish to know when the Department 
plans to commence proceedings to cut off funds from such: ‘hospitals. 

Very truly yours, 

Michael Meltsner 

MM/ngf