CORRESPONDENCE June 1951 COORDINATING COMMITTEE FOR THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE D.C. ANTI-DISCRIMINATION LAWS: CHAIRMAN, MRS. MARY CHURCH TERRELL 1103 Trenton Pl. S.E. Washington, 20, D.C. June 1, 1951 PROGRESS REPORT Dear Friend: "EAT WHERE YOU WANT" -says the Municipal Court of Appeals The end of segregation in D.C. restaurants is at last in view. Our two-year fight for the "lost" laws of 1872 and 1873 was crowned with victory when the Municipal Court of Appeals decided last week that it is the law that all well-behaved persons must be served equally in all D.C. restaurants. Enclosed is a statement explaining the decision and what must now be done. "WAIT" -says Vernon E. West, Corporation Counsel The outrageous action of the Corporation Counsel immediately following the announcement of the decision that the 1873 Act is LAW refusing to enforce the law until all appeals are completed, must be vigorously fought. Mr. West is sworn to uphold the law- he cannot pick and choose which laws to enforce. WE WON'T WAIT! The Coordinating Committee calls upon its friends and cooperating organizations to act now to make the law work. 1. SEND A TELEGRAM TODAY TO THE COMMISSIONERS DEMANDING THAT THE LAW BE ENFORCED NOW. 2. Urge everyone to go freely to any restaurant of his choice. If service is refused, call Vernon West, Na. 6000, and complain. 3. SUPPORT THESE ACTIONS of the Coordinating Committee: Delegation to Commissioners: On May 29, Mrs. Terrell sent a letter to the District Commissioners requesting an appointment to discuss enforcing the law NOW. BACK UP THIS COMMITTEE BY YOUR TELEGRAM TO THE COMMISSIONERS. ENFORCEMENT DAY The Restaurant Survey will be replaced by ENFORCEMENT DAYS. Committee volunteers will go back to the restaurants that refused to serve in the past and acquaint the managers with the law. VOLUNTEER FOR THE FIRST ENFORCEMENT DAY SAT. JUNE 9th ASBURY METHODIST CHURCH 11th and K Streets N.W. 11 AM to 3 PM Come early; briefing session is from 11-11:30 but if you cant come early, come anytime until 3 PM WE NEED 100 volunteers. Pledge yourself to come and bring your friends. MASS MEETING Sponsored by twenty-three leading ministers, co-chaired by Rev. C. T. Murray, Vermont Ave. Baptist Church and Rev. E. C. Smith, Metropolitan Baptist Church WE WONT WAIT MASS MEETING Friday, June 15th, 8P.M. METROPOLITAN BAPTIST CHURCH 1225 R Street Northwest Placards are available at Cafeteria Hall, 1015 M Street NW. Get one for your organization, your Church, your place of business. This mass meeting is your chance to tell the Commissioners that WE WONT WAIT! Start now telling your friends, your neighbors and the members of your organ- ization to COME TO THE MASS MEETING FRIDAY, JUNE 15th. Hecht Boycott The Hecht Co, boycott is going full force, and will be ended only when HECHT'S SERVES EVERYONE WITHOUT DISCRIMINATION. 8000 postcards have been sent to the company, pledging not to buy until all are served. Hundreds of accounts have been cancelled and hundreds more "Our Money Talks" stickers have been attached to Hecht bills. More cards, stickers and leaflets can be obtained by calling Boycott Comm. Chairman Alice C. Trigg, Ho. 3391. MAKE YOUR MONEY-BOYCOTT HECHTS TALK We are nearing our goal. A determined and united effort now will bring full victory over the intolerable injustice of seg- regation in restaurants in the Nation's Capital. SEND YOUR WIRE TO THE COMMISSIONERS VOLUNTEER FOR ENFORCEMENT DAY Saturday, June 9 Asbury Methodist Church COME OUT IN FORCE TO THE WE WONT WAIT MASS MEETING Friday, June 15th Metropolitan Baptist Church Sincerely yours, Mary Church Terrell Mary Church Terrell Chairman Annie Stein Annie Stein Secretary Jo-2-6932 COORDINATING COMMITTEE FOR THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE D.C. ANTI-DISCRIMINATION LAWS CHAIRMAN: Mrs. Mary Church Terrell May 31, 1951 STATEMENT ON THE MUNICIPAL COURT OF APPEALS DECISION, THOMPSON CASE The decision of the Municipal Court of Appeals in the Thompson Restaurant Case vindicates the opinion of this Committee that the Legislative Assembly Act of June 26, 1873 is valid and in effect. Under the decision of the Court, it is illegal for any restaurant, bar or soda fountain to refuse to serve any person on account of his color or otherwise to discriminate against him. Hotel dining rooms are included in this law. Any such establishment which discriminates on account of color is subject to a fine of $100 and to loss of license to do business for one year. The status of the Legislative Assembly Act of 1872, as distinguished from the Act of 1873, is not yet determined. If the 1872 Act is eventually upheld, as we are convinced it will be, its effect will be to extend the prohibition against discrimination to hotel lodgings, barber shops, and bathing houses. The decision of the Municipal Court of Appeals may be reviewed by the United States Court of Appeals. An appeal to the Court from the decision is not a matter of right, but may be granted by the Court in the exercise of its discretion. We are confident that if an appeal is allowed, the decision of the Municipal Court of Appeals will be upheld. The decision of the Municipal Court of Appeals is law. But for one unfortunate incident, the handing down of the decision would have resulted in almost all eating places in the District immediately complying with the 1873 law even while further appellate steps were pending. However, Vernon West, the official charged with enforcing District laws, has encouraged restaurants to defy the law by announcing that he would not enforce the 1873 Act pending the discretionary review of the United States Court of Appeals. This announcement was issued with the utmost of unseemly haste. Apparently, the Corporation Counsel shares the anxiety of the Restaurant Association that the law shall continue to be flouted. Mr. West's refusal to enforce the 1873 Act despite the ruling of the highest court with mandatory appellate jurisdiction is an almost unprecedented breach of public trust and a flagrant disregard of the obligations of his office. His excuse that immediate enforcement would flood his office with cases is preposterous. The mere determined announcement of intention to prosecute violators would have brought virtually every eating place into compliance. Moreover, it is a novel justification for failure to prosecute crime that crime is rampant. Insistence on immediate compliance will not cause eating places any injury during further appellate proceedings. The one "detriment" they can incur by immediate compliance is that they will be eliminating a few months in advance, and to their own financial profit, the dishonorable Jim Crow policies which are an international disgrace. The Coordinating Committee for the Enforcement of the D.C. Anti-Discrimination Laws does not intend to let Mr. West's ruling go unchallenged We shall demand that Mr. West be reversed by the District Commissioners, the President, or members of Congress. The same outraged public opinion which compelled the District government to prosecute belatedly the Thompson Case will force it to enforce without delay the victory which the people of the District have won in the decision. We call upon our friends and supporters, individuals and organizations, to make themselves heard. The "lost" anti-discrimination law must not again become lost through public neglect. COORDINATING COMMITTEE FOR THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE D.C. ANTI-DISCRIMINATION LAWS: 1103 Trenton Pl. SE June 1, 1951 Dear Committee-member: There will be an important meeting of the Coordinating Committee on WEDNESDAY JUNE 6th at 8:15 P.M. at Cafeteria Hall:1015 M St. NW Subject: Delegation to Commissioners Enforcement Survey-June 9 June 15th Mass Meeting Pplease at