Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1947-07-12
Negro Citizens In Louisville, Kentucky
File Suit For Right To Use City Parks

LOUISVILLE ny AhS wy
Louisville will be made defendant
in a Circuit Court suit to outlaw
racial discrimination in city parks
and Fairgrounds. In al, petition
prepared for filing today (Thur)
by Attorney Alfred Carroll and
James Crumlin, DIR. p. o. Sween-
ey, a tax payer, seeks relief from
restricted privileges in city parks
and requests that all citizens be
permitted to use all facilities OF
public parks irrespective of race
creed or color.
The petitioner states specifical'
" that the present policy is op-
pressiye and discrimina tory to-
wards Negroes, and he prays that
a Writ of Mandamus be issued to
T. Byrne Morgan, City Director
of Parks and Recreation, and Mau
rice w. Settle, business manager
Louisville Park Theatrical Assoc
-iation, restraining their segrega-
ton and discriminatory policies,
The petition goes on to add
that the present discriminatory pol
icy directed against the plaintiff
violates the 14th Amendment to
the United States Constitution in
so much that the defendants re
present a governmental function
charged with the equal protect
ion under the law of all citizens.
The present policy does not pro
vide for this equality and the
petitioner is deprived of liberty
and property without due process
of law as guaranteed to him
the amendment.
The principal rievance contain
ed inthe charge is that DR.. Swee-
ney, local dentist and tax payer
who lives at 524 West Walnut
ST., has been repeatedly denied
access to recreation facilities pro-
vided by the city for white citi-
zens and denied him and his race
because of color. These facilities
include golf courses with lockers
showers, club houses and golf pre-
fessionals and an amphitheatel
containing some 5000 seats IL
Iroquois park where Negro cit
liens are prohibited because Of
color.
SYTEM OF SEGREGATITN
The petition points that the
eity park system is one of segre-'
cation and that this aggregation
carries along with it discrimination
and the denial of equal facilities
for Negroes - which constitutes
a wrongful and unlawful act
THE petition explains further
that parks owned by the city are
under the direct control OF MI
Morgan, appointed by the city al
pursuant to Kentucky Revised Sta
tutes (97,25O to 81, 258) effected
February IL, 1912 That funds of
the support and maintenance O
Mr. Morgan's department ans
parks are principally derived from
the general treasury of the city
out of funds procured by taxes
levied and collected from tax pay
ers ..ll.zl.
REAFFIRMED PTLICY
DIR Sweeney charges that tn
defendant, Mr. Morgan, from tn
time of his appointment to thu
nresent date, has asopted, reaf
firmed and incorated in his pro
gram as a part of his departments
policy, resolution passed JUNE
1T, 1924 by the now disposed
Board of Parks COMMISSIONS
which stated in part:
pending an investigation OF thu
complaints made regarding thu
eject of certain colored jeopl'
from the white Fairgrounds Q!
Iroquois Park and the adoption
of a permanent policy regard
ing the use-of the parks by thu
white and colored people and il
view of the feeling aroused o.
this incident and in order to pre-
vent any further friction the sup
erintendent is hereby instructe'
to exclude colored people from Vi
ing the following parks and pla!
grounds: :::Boone Square, Contra