Jewish Groups Hail Supreme Court Ban on School Segregation

Major Jewish groups and local Jewish community relations organizations today issued statements hailing the decision of the U. S. Supreme Court banning racial segregation in schools.

The National Community Relations Advisory Council, speaking for the American Jewish Congress, Jewish Labor Committee, Jewish War Veterans of the U.S., all national Jewish religious bodies and many local and regional Jewish councils throughout the country, declared: “The Supreme Court decision holding racial segregation in the public schools unconstitutional represents another major chapter in the history of the growth of true equality under law.” In their statement the agencies also expressed the hope “that all will accept the decision of the Court.”

The American Jewish Committee said: “All Americans should take comfort in the Court’s ruling that there are no degrees of limitation of equality of opportunity based on differences in race or creed. We join in expressing the hope that the transition from segregation to desegregation will be marked by the good sense for which the American people are known and by their peaceable compliance with the Court’s decree.”

The American Jewish Congress, in a separate statement, said: “The decision of the Supreme Court can open a new era in American democracy and reinvigorate the democratic concept everywhere. It provides an inspiring demonstration of the manner in which, under law, we can make constant progress toward the ideal of full equality which is the American promise.”

The Rabbinical Assembly of America, at its convention today, adopted a resolution stating: “We recognize in the decision the great and enduring values of our democratic tradition and religious heritage. We look with great hope to the early implementation of this magnificent decision by all the American people.” A similar resolution was adopted by the Workmen’s Circle, major American Jewish fraternal organization, which has a membership of 70, 000.