“Unprecedented progress in civil rights” has been achieved in the five-year period 1948-53 by the people themselves, the American Jewish Committee declared today, on the 161st anniversary of Bill of Rights Day and the fifth anniversary of the report of the President’s Committee on Civil Rights.
The fields with considerable advances in respect for the rights of the individual include the armed services, athletics, citizenship, education, employment, housing, public accommodation; and professional, business, fraternal and religious societies.
“The record is not all shining, of source,” the A. J. C. reported. “Bigots seeking to halt civil rights advances have incited shocking outbreaks of terrorism and repression in a number of communities. Furthermore, major measures recommender by the President’s Committee remain bottled up in Congress, despite mounting public pressure for their adoption.
“But these setbacks have not blocked the forward march,” the report said. “On their own initiative, the people have investigated local practices in employment, housing, education and other vital areas. They have scored many victories through administrative, legislative and judicial action. These achievements multiply daily as Americans continue to press for the rights they hold dear.”
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