The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-10-09
PARENTS FINED
IN H|LLbURN NY
FOR PROTESTS
Keep Children Home As
Protest Against Jim
Crow Schools

HILLBURN, NY. tANP)-Psr-
ents OF Sc children were this week
again seeking admission to the
Hillburn Main school denied them
when the term opened September
0. thus precipitating a strike in pro-
test Of the jim-crow policy of the
Central School district at Ramapo
which governs the institution.
Eighteen fathers subpoenaed to
appear before Juvenile Court Judge
John McKenna last week were
given suspended fines OF $40. and
ordered to place their children in
any accredited school Immediately.
This fine will be appealed TO the
appellate division Of the supreme
court at Brooklyn.
Thuygood Marshall. special coun.
sci for the NAACP which is giving
legal assistance to the embittered
parents. declared that his. clients
while once more seeking sdmittance
to the main school would under no
circumstances submit to the dis
criminatory arrangement at the di-
lapidated Brook school reserved for
Negro pupils Meanwhile. the chill
dren, all Of grammar school age, are
continuing their studies at the
Brook Chapel school here with the
aid OF the NAACP parents and sew
eral licensed teachers.
Closed Meeting
At the hearing at New York City
county seat OF Rockland county. the
hearings for the parents were closed
10 reporters. the public and some
of the parents. The judge denied
parents the right OF an open hear
ing in court and forced them to
herd their children into a private
room where each was questioned
separately.
War production at the American
Brake Shoe company plant here
was threatened with serious tieup
as several parents subpoenaed are
key workers in the industry. Des-
pte the pleas Of the superintendent
not to stay away from their Jobs
the parents were determined to stay
with the fight until the democracy
they are laboring for Is won for
their children.
Gilbert Avery. his wife and their
'our-year-old son. were taken into
the chambers first for q hearing
after Marshall and his associate.
Donald Crichton and William Z
Miele, attorney for the school board.
rad agreed that evidence submitted
against one parent be used IS .
basis in all other cases. Avery
said he thought the proceedings
were "deplorable."
Judge McKenna tried the parents
under the state truancy law, but
Marshall commended that the school
board had itself broken the law by
refusal TO admit Negro students to
Hillburn Main. even In the face
o. q directive from the state board
or education that recognized a
statutory law prescribing discrimi-
nation in public education. J. Ed
gar Davidson. principal OF the Gen.
trail School district appeared as the
chief witness for the state, and
;hrce Negro teachers. Mrs. Ethel
Barton, Miss Mildred Van Dunk and
Miss Kate Slavery, principal OF the
segregated Brook school. were
forced 10 testify against the par.
en,s. They displayed school attend
ance records TO show pupil alb.
senteeism. The teachers have said
repeatedly that they are in SYM
psthy with the parents and that II
they had caildren they would do the
same thing
The judgment against the parents
was not recorded and information
to the press came from Marshall
whom Judge McKenna had author
lied 10 interpret the proceedings.
During the strike only four Ne
gro children have remained in the
Brook school.
Mothers OF the youngsters ex-
pressed surprise that the father and
not them had been subpoenaed since
they were the ones who ins;i-
gated the fight. However. as Mrs
Margaret Van Dunk put il. IT was
probably done because they know
we've done all the work and can
talk better about il than our men
can. But the men are cool-he AIDED