NCJW Heralds Anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education
May 14, 2004, WASHINGTON, DC -- The National Council of Jewish Women today heralded the 50th anniversary of the seminal civil rights desegregation case, Brown v. Board of Education. NCJW President Marsha Atkind released the following statement:
“The 50th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education is an occasion for celebration and rededication. We celebrate this historic decision because it marked the beginning of the end of Jim Crow and served as the inspiration for other movements for human equality and dignity. This anniversary also offers an opportunity for our nation to evaluate how much remains to be done to obliterate the legacy of slavery and inequality that still plagues all too many communities.
“Members of the National Council of Jewish Women were and are in the forefront of the ongoing struggle to transform the promise of our country’s ideals into a reality. The last 50 years have been an uphill battle on many fronts, with steady progress interrupted by frequent setbacks. Racial inequality in education, employment, and income continue to plague us, just as we applaud the advances of many African Americans into positions of political and institutional power. Policies that provide a level playing field are difficult to maintain in the face of shortsighted political opposition, but they remain key to fulfilling the promise of Brown.
“NCJW resolves to continue its work toward eliminating every ‘badge of slavery’ that Brown was intended to remove. Both the parents who courageously resolved to send their children to integrated schools and the civil rights lawyers who toiled in obscurity to use our country’s own idealistic words to dismantle its cruel internal contradictions have a special place in our history.”
NCJW is a volunteer organization, inspired by Jewish values, that works to improve the quality of life for women, children, and families and to ensure individual rights and freedoms for all through its network of 90,000 members, supporters, and volunteers nationwide.
Contact:
Sammie Moshenberg
202-296-2588; sammie@ncjwdc.org