LDF Seeks to Reverse Parade Conviction of Ala. Minister
Press Release
August 5, 1969

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Press Releases, Volume 6. LDF Seeks to Reverse Parade Conviction of Ala. Minister, 1969. d84501a8-b992-ee11-be37-00224827e97b. LDF Archives, Thurgood Marshall Institute. https://ldfrecollection.org/archives/archives-search/archives-item/d80bfe9a-1f4c-476e-a25b-81294f5e622f/ldf-seeks-to-reverse-parade-conviction-of-ala-minister. Accessed August 19, 2025.
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President Hon. Francis E. Rivers PRESS RELEASE Director-Counsel egal efense und Inck Gesoabere Director, Public Relations NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATIONAL FUND, INC. Jesse DeVore, Jr. 10 Columbus Circle, New York, N.Y. 10019 » JUdson 6-8397 NIGHT NUMBER 212-749-8487 FOR RELEASE TUESDAY August 5, 1969 LDF SEEKS TO REVERSE PARADE CONVICTION OF ALA. MINISTER WASHINGTON,D.C.---In the first case of its kind (parading without a permit) to go to the Supreme Court since Shuttlesworth v. City of Birmingham, a Negro minister in Prichard, Alabama, has filed a petition in the U.S. Supreme Court seeking reversal of his conviction for allegedly parading without a permit. The petition, being filed by NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) attorneys, states that the Reverend A. Robert Ray, a minister active in the Mobile County Civil Rights Movement, was unjustly convicted for conducting a civil rights march for equal employment opportunity on June 12, 1968 in Prichard, Alabama. Rev. Ray testified that he applied for a parade permit in ample time for it to be considered and approved. But at the last minute, without warning, the Mayor and the City Council cancelled the permit for no apparent reason. Only during Rev. Ray's trial were some reasons given. According to Rev. Ray's attorneys, the City Council's final denial on June 10 of the Movement's application for a parade permit abridged the right of assembly of Rev. Ray and other members of the Movement. They further state that the Court must act to prevent state and city officials from breaching their public trust to keep open streets and parks for purposes of assembly, communicating thoughts between citizens, and discussing public questions in the future. =30= NOTE: The LDF is a completely separate and distinct organization even though we were established by the NAACP and those initials are retained in our name. Our correct designation is NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc., frequently shortened to LDF.