Leading Jewish Groups Laud High Courts Decision

The U.S. Supreme Court decision forbidding court enforcement of restrictive real estate covenants was hailed today in a Joint state-t issued by Joseph M. Proskauer, president of the American Jewish Committee, and ?acob Grumet, chairman of the civil rights committee of the Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith. The statement by the two Jewish” leaders was released also on behalf the Jewish Labor Committee and the Jewish War Veterans.

“The unanimous decision of the U.S. Supreme Court, forbidding enforcement by state or Federal courts of racially restrictive real estate agreements, is a mile-stone in the democratic effort to eliminate discrimination in the enjoyment of basic civil and political rights by all groups, regardless of race, color, religion or national origin,” the statement said. “Restrictive covenants have been a major weapon in the segregation of racial and religious minorities,” the statement continued. Such segregation inevitably is a threat to democracy. For this reason, the American Jewish Committee, the Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith, the Jewish War Veterans and the Jewish Labor Committee, on Dec. 1, 1947, filed a brief as ‘friends of the Court’ in the cases upon which the Supreme Court has just ruled.”

The statement points out that while the Supreme Court decision does not void all discriminatory restrictive covenants, it does mate it impossible for persons entering Into such agreements to invoke the aid of the courts in enforcing, them. “As such, it is another step in the recent series of Supreme Court decisions, state statutes, and Federal recommendations which reaffirm and strengthen the civil rights of every citizen, regardless of race, creed, color or national origin. These decisions and recommendations add Impetus to the campaign of education which alms to eliminate prejudice and bigotry,” it concluded.