J. Greenberg's Policy Statement
Press Release
October 8, 1965

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Press Releases, Volume 3. J. Greenberg's Policy Statement, 1965. bc61084d-b692-ee11-be37-00224827e97b. LDF Archives, Thurgood Marshall Institute. https://ldfrecollection.org/archives/archives-search/archives-item/ec20e3f5-5a2e-4020-b1d0-dec66c1d38a3/j-greenbergs-policy-statement. Accessed June 13, 2025.
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Statement by Jack»Greenberg, director-counsel NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. October 8, 1965 Ly POLICY STATEMENT The Legal Defense and Educational Fund has filed this case to require the State of California to assign adequate legal representation to the thousands of persons arrested during the Watts rioting. While we would not consties Tt eux function as a civil rights organization to represent persons whom we believe to be guilty of crime, there is no doubt that an indeterminate number of Watts defendants are innocent of charges placed against them, and will not receive the kind of representation which the United States Constitution guarantees to all defendants, rich or poor, Negro or white, innocent or guilty. Because the Watts tragedy arose out of an inextricable combination of racial discrimination and poverty, and neglect by the community at large, this case is importagt for it seeks to require California to stop turning its back on those residents of Watts now in the toils of the law. The suit calls upon the State to assure adequate representation prior to trial instead of--as jis Papi ser after trial that a conviction be upset because representation was not effective. ait a ns