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Show A8 Davis County Clipper Tuesday, May 4, 2004 BROWN vs. BOARD OF EDUCATION I Presented by the Utah State Bar & The Utah Commission on Racial and Ethnic fairness ;y ; I . . 3 J the Criminal and luvenile justice Systems Fifty Vcars After the Drown Decision On May 17 we commemorate the 50th anniversary of the landmark decision of Brown vs Board of Education with a series of discussions, events and activities to focus attention on the continuing goal of eliminating prejudice and racial bias in our country Much has been accomplished over the last five decades, but more positive change is needed to guarantee fairness for all Beyond Brown Pursuing THE STORY OF Broinnt us. Board of Education The Brown anniversary is an important reminder to all of us that our Constitution provides 7, 2004 is the fiftieth anniversary of the United States landmark decision in Brown vs. Board of Education Court's Supreme of Topeka, Kansas. The decision brought an end to the legal doctrine May that every person is entitled to be treated equally The Brown decision and the Civil Rights movement demonstrate that concerned citizens can advance the rule of law The Brown decision helped pave the way for social justice for others discriminated against on the basis of race, gender, religion or disability 1 of "separate but equal," enshrined by the same court nearly sixty years eariier in Plessy vs. Ferguson. In Plessy the Supreme Court held that segregation was acceptable if the separate facilities provided for blacks were equal to those provided for whites. The sole dissent came from Justice John M. Harlan. Arguing that our Constitution is color- Our courts, attorneys, criminal justice agencies and representatives from communities of color formed a task force in 1956 to focus on racial and ethnic fairness in the criminal and juvenile justice systems After an exhaustive study, the task force made recommendations in many areas, including recruitment and hiring, cultural competency training, and community outreach You can read more helow about the work of the Racial and Ethnic Fairness Commission w hich was established to help implement the task forces recommendations blind, and neither knows nor tolerates classes among citizens, Justice Harlan accurately predicted further "aggressions, more or less brutal Justice Harlan's warning was fully realized in the regime of "Jim Crow" laws that, with the Supreme Court's sanction, enforced segregation of blacks and other people of color from many of the facilities enjoyed by white citizens across much of the United States. Public schools, transportation facilities, residential neighborhoods, With this 50th anniversary celebration, we hope to create a dialogue in schools and at homes throughout Utah exploring the issues of diversity and equal treatment under the law The Brown decision is one of the most important decisions in the history of our country, and we encourage you to discuss how this decision impacts all of us and our community were set whites," while separate-a- nd supposedly equal-facilit- ies aside for "coloreds. Any hope of changing these laws through democratic processes was shipped away as states erected legal barriers Segregation was the law, but almost immediately it met with resistance. Less than fifteen years after Plessy, a group of individuals committed to fighting against the brutalities of Jim Crow America had formed the Commission 2001 Members of Colored People (the NAACP). The legal strategy focused first on insisting that states take the Plessy standard seriously. "White" and "colored" schools were certainly separate, but in most cases they were far from equal. District by distnet, 2 legal challenges were brought insisting that black schools be brought up to par with their "whites only" equivalents. This strategy, however, j required fighting district by district and did not directly challenge the doctrine of "separate but equal. In 1 950 the NAACP resolved that basis nothing other than education of all children on a ; i ' j would be an acceptable outcome. Work began on laying the final groundwork for Brown vs. Board of Education. j j ! Kansas, Delaware, South Carolina, and Virginia. Each case represented individual acts of courage by families willing to face local resistance-ev- en hostility--to j bring an end to segregation. I j 4 Although the four decisions went against the NAACP in the trial courts, its position was strengthened by some of the decisions. In South ; Carolina Judge Julius Waties Waring dissented from the opinion of his two colleagues who also heard the case, declaring that "segregation is per se inequality. And in Kansas, the three-judg- e panel attached j I to its opinion a finding of fact that segregation has a detrimental effect on colored children, especially when it is enforced by law. j j i The four cases were argued on appeal to the United States Supreme ; j ; j 953. Before the reargument could occur. Chief Justice Vinson died and was replaced by Chief Justice Earl Warren. Under his guidance, a group of black attorneys including Thurgood Marshall, Charles Hamilton and makes recommendations for improvements. 5tate creates Commission to implement Task force's recommendations, judges attorneys, representatives of criminal and juvenile justice agencies (including law enforcement) and community leaders. Meets on a regular basis and facilitates communication between Commission numerous communities of color. i 1 j unanimous Court on May 1 7, 1 954 issued its decision declanng that segregation of the public schools was unconstitutional. A landmark Houston, and Robert L. Carter were joined by others committed to the fight against j j in the struggle for equality under the law for all Americans had been Thurgood Marshall j achieved. ) 2004 Utah btale and Advisory Council Objectives (1) Ensure fairness for all who interad the criminal justice system; (2) fostei? j constructive communications and d and (3) create atmospheres in whicfcl participants with potentially differenioint( of view and different expenences ar a to understand and respect each oth an work together to achieve fairness. f Contacting Commission n Ho, (801) Program Coordinator j 6 Beyond Brown May 13th 7 PM The - 8 PM KUED 7 mark the 50th anniversary of the historic Supreme Court ruling Brown vs. Board of Education, Emmy winning director Stanley Nelson examines the legal battle that ended the nation's system of sanctioned apartheid, and the impact and influence of that decision, the program also explores contemporary debates on student tracking, testing, school financing and busing A mix of activists and celebrities speaks about the achievements and unfulfilled promises of Brown. To KUEB Special Report: 50 Years after Brown vs. Board of Education May 13th 8 PM - 8 PM KUED 7 years ago the U S Supreme Court outlawed school segregation What impact did the decision have in Utah and where do we stand today? Tune Fifty into KUED for a live discussion moderated by Ken Verdoia The Utah Minority Bar Association encourages students to write tetters to the editor of their local paper indicating how the Brown decision impacts them personally For prizes and guide- lines visit the Utah State Bars website at: www.uiahbar.org Ciuil Rights Timeline Brown vs. Board of Education u as only one step in the Civil Rights Here is a timeline of some Movement other significant events. BlackWhite & Brown: Brown Versos The Board Of Edncation Of Topeka May 16th 4 PM - 5 PM KUED 7 MAY 17, 1354 ubkunui Supreme Court issued its decision in the landmark case of Broun vs. Board of Education, ruling that segregation in public schools is In Montgomery Alabama, a u man named Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat near the front of the bus to a white passenger This sparked a bus boycott m Montgomery u bieh lasted for more than a year The stitutionaL l 19&5 documentary presents the stories of the events and circumstances that converged as the wheels of the legal system were set in motion. Appearing on the program are Oliver Brown's wife, Leola, Brown's daughters, Linda and Cheryl, and individuals, Roger Wilkins, NAACP Legal Defense Fund. BLACKWHITE & BROWN is narrated by Bill Kurds and features readings by Walter Cronkite, Jim Lehrer and Bill Moyers. What is Brown? mi j Film Festival The Utah State Bar and The Utah Racial and Ethnic Fairness Commission are sponsonng free films and discussions dealing with the issues of segregation and civil nghts. They are all open to the public on basis. a May 5 - 7:00 p.m. May 6 - 7.00 p.m. - 12:00 noon KULC 9 - 12:00 noon KUED 7 Frl., May 7 - 10.00 AM Mon., May 17 - 10:30 AM Mon., May 17-1- :30 Salt Lake City Hall, Council "Remember the Chambers - Titans' Utah's Segregated Past Mon., May 3 Thu., May 6 j Kansas actually included appeals from decisions in four separate states in A Jr Advisory Council Commission schools were all challenged, often successfully. Attention then turned to the politically charged arena of public school segregation. Task force studies racial and ethnic fairness in the criminal and juvenile justice systems 1996-200- 0 September, Brown, these lawyers progressively chipped away at the legal structure jury pools, covenants that restricted fortifying segregation. ownership of property in certain neighborhoods by race, laws disenfranchising black voters and segregated graduate and professional Court in 1 952, with the issue being whether segregation depnved students of equal protection under the law as guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment The Court requested reargument of the case National Association for the Advancement segregation. In the decades leading up to at 7 PM O BettmannCorbrs i to the exercise of the vote by black citizens. And in courthouses across the land, blacks were systematically excluded from service on juries. f&?Tht Utah Commission on Rscfal &ami Ethnic Fairness In the Criminal! J&and jQVtnilf Justice Systems jy May 13 until segregation was brought to an end. public and private theaters, restaurants, and even public lavatories and drinking fountains were designated for the exclusive use of Hon William Thome, Judge, Utah CouH of Appeals Chan, 1 tah Commission on Racial and Eth me Fairness m the Criminal and Juvenile Justice Systems 7, The NAACP's position was that equality could not be achieved Utah's demographics are changing rapidly and we are becoming We must remember both as a state and a nation that our strength lies in our diversity Debra Moore, President, 1 tah State Bar KUED The case known as Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka, and irritating, upon the admitted rights of colored citizens." a more diverse people the Promise, Indian Walk-i- n Center, 120 West 1300 So -"- Mamie Tape & fight for Equality" with panel discussion May KULC 9 KUED 7 PM KULC 9 This is an historical essay about Utahns' expenences with segregation, beginning with the arrival of the first pioneers, the report is introduced by Utah Bar President Debra Moore The Hon. William Thorne, Chair of The Utah Commission on Racial and Ethnic Fairness in the Criminal and Juvenile Justice System, and Keith N Hamilton, an attorney in private practice and also a member of the Commission. 1 2 - 7:00 p m. BYU Law School, Provo -"Road to Brown'and panel discussion May 13 - 7:00 p.m. SLC Main Library Auditorium "Separate But Equal' May 14 - 7:00 p.m. Calvary Baptist Church, 1090 'So. State Jackie Robinson Story' followed by a panel - discussion by prominent baseball players involved with him and the Negro Leagues May 19 - 7:00 p.m. Dunford Auditorium, Dixie State College, St George -"Road to Brown'and panel discussion SEPTEMBER 1357 AUGUST In Little Rock, Arkansas, nine black students are blockedfrom entering the j formerly all white Central High School on orders of Governor Orval Fanbus President Dunght Eisenhower j sent federal troops and the National Guard to intervene j on behalf of the students. In Washington, D.C., some 200,000 people icipated in the March -- yji 28, 1383 on Washington, which culminated at the "I Have a Dream" speech by Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr, delivered at the Lincoln Memorial part- |