The Northwest Times

JACL Aids in Restaurant Bias Case

WASHINGTON, D. C., June 13 (JACL Dispatch)—The National Japanese American Citizens League and its Washington, D. C. chapter participated in the historic case in which the United States Supreme Court this week ruled that it is unlawful to deny service to any person on account of his race in Washington eating places.

The high court held 8-0 that the so-called "lost" law of 1873 which made it criminal for operators of restaurants and similar establishments in Washington to refuse equal service to all "well-behaved" and "respectable" persons are still in operation. Although not directly involved, the court seemed to indicate that Congress had the same power to delegate legislative and other authority to the federal district as it does for territories, thereby increasing the possibilities of "home rule" for the District of Columbia.

The JACL, both national and local, joined with some 20 racial, religious, and civil rights organizations in carrying the fight against racial discrimination in the Washington restaurants through the courts.

At the same time, the Supreme Court postponed until next fall hearings on several cases involving the constitutionality of segregation in public schools. In these cases, the National JACL and its Washington chapter have joined in signing briefs urging the nation's highest tribunal to declare unconstitutional the segregation of races in the public schools of the nation.