Jackson advocate., 1963-06-08
Atlanta -.

incident at a swimming pOol.
However, nearly two years
ago a group OF Negro college
students. members of the Com
mittee on Appeal for Human
Rights, filed in the United
States District Court here a
suit demanding the complete
integration of all city-owned
facilities. The case was styled
Benjamin D. Brown ct al. VS..
the City Of Atlanta.
Last August the city entered
into consent decree agreeing
to open all municipal facilities
on desegregated basis. AS the
swimming season was nearly
over, the court did not require
the city to desegregate the
pools last summer. The 1868
season for swimming in the
public pools will begin at 9 am.
Wednesday. June IL.
Mayor Aliens statement on
a matter that has aroused keen
public interest-and apprehen-
sion by some groups-was very
brief. He said
. "In keeping with last years
court decision. the pools will
be open 10 all citizens of At
lanta. 1t is the sincere hope Of
the city government that the
citizens Of Atlanta will enjoy
their park facilities in the same
fine manner as they have in the
past"
c Of c Application
Until now separate pools
have been provided for white
and Negro citizens. The Mayors
statement obviously means that
now either race may use any of
the municipal pools.
lnasmuch as restaurants.
hotels, barber and beauty Shops.
bars and nightclubs are about
the only major private busi-
nesses in Atlanta that do not
already serve members of both
races, the statement by the
board Of directors of the cham
Der of commerce appears to
have particular application to
them.
About two years ago. follow!
ing series OF sit-in demonstra-
tions by Negro students and
some adults. all restaurants and
lunch counters operated by
large department stores and
chain drug stores were deseg-
resated. There have been no
disorders as a result.
Sit-In Targets
However. this left unaffected
hundreds of restaurants oper-
ated independently Of any other
business. and they have con-
sistently refused to serve Negro
patrons. Several have been the
target OF Sit-in demonstrations
recently.
Meanwhile. the Atlanta Hotel
Association has been conduct
ing a long series of rnnfAre-o~-
with Mayor Allen on the sub
iect of deseeregating its facili-
ties. but SO far there has been
no agreement to do SO. On few
occasions distinguished Negro
visitors from the North have
been accommodated al motels,
but so far as is known at none
Of the large downtown hotels.
The chambers statement has.
Of course. no legal effect. But
it represents the opinion of
outstanding business
leaders. and may be a power
full force of moral suaSIon.
Fewer Transfers
Meanwhile. there was an
other development i'll racial af-
fairs that surprised many OBJ
servers. Fewer Negro students
had applied for. transfers to
white schools oy the May Is
than did last year,
despite the fact that a fourth
grade will be desegregated next
fall under Atlanta's "escalator"
plan.
According 10 DR.. Raol Stev-
ems. assistant superintendent Of
the Atlanta school system. only
l91 Negro students requested
transfers 10 predominantly
white schools this spring as
compared with 265 last year.
of which "a were approved. In.
the first year OF integration-
1961-some 1874 applied and 10
were approved.
Under a plan approved by
the United States District Court
here, the 18th and 18th grades
were desegregated in 1861 and
the 10th in 1862. Next fall the
9th grade also will be inte-
grated under the Atlanta pupil
placement plan.
DR.. Stevens said that the
'caliber" of Negro students ap-
plying for transfers this year
was not as high as in 1861 or
1862. He, said that the grades
Of many indicated "they are
1ot finding success where they
are" and are looking for a
change.
Those whose applications
have been approved by the
school administration will be
announced June "A.
SIuif