Jackson Advocate

Discrimination Protested In Virginia Schools

Richmond, Va. (NNPA) - A group of colored citizens of King George County last Monday filed suit in Federal District Court here asking an injunction to restrain county and divisional school authorities from "willful discrimination" in their alleged failure to provide equal high school facilities for white and colored pupils in King George County.

The suit charged that the only high school for colored pupils in the county was lacking adequate library, laboratory, and physical education facilities, was un-accredited, and suffered from an insufficient curriculum.

It said further that the county school board and Divisional School Superintendent T. Benton Gayle, named as defendants, had "failed and refused" to make these school improvements which would place the school in a bracket with white schools in the county.

The suit was filed by nine adults, representing themselves and 13 King George colored school children, and charged that the action of the defendants was in violation of the constitutions and laws of both the State and the nation.

It asked the court to enter a judgment enjoining the defendants from "denying an account of race and color equal courses of study, facilities, adequate bus transportation, and opportunity for physical and cultural developments."

Oliver W. Hill, Martin A. Martin, and Spottswood W. Robinson, III, Richmond attorneys, are representing the plaintiffs.