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From: JEWISH COMMUNITY COUNCIL OF METROPOLITAN BOSTON
MEMORANDUM
SUITE 401 - 72 FRANKLIN STREET, BOSTON 10 Tel. Liberty 2-7525
To:
:ttuth Batson,
Date Harch 24, 1967
I don't know if you have seen all of these things sent out by us. You might want them for your files.
N.A.A.C.P. O.ffice
451
Massachusetts Avenue Boston, l~ssachusetts.March
21, 1967
In
1965
one hundred and sixty-six Representatives voted to pass the RACIAL IMBALANCE ACT making Massachusetts the first state in the country to attack this serious problem. Now, when it is just starting to .function, attempts are being made to change and/or suspend this new, important law.All of the bills designed to repeal or alter the Racial Imbalance Act will be heard on Monday, March
27,
before the Joint Committee on Education. We are aware of and grate.ful for the support you have given in the past on this whole issue of Equal Opportunity and all that term implies.Hence, we ask that you appear on March
27
to testi.fy AGAINST ANY change and AGAINST ANY bill designed to repeal the RacialImbalance--Act.
---If you are willing to join with the many citizens of our Common-wealth .from all walks of li.fe to PRESERVE the Racial Imbalance Act, please contact us immediately.
Sincerely,
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Ruth M. Batson Paul Parks
Education Committee N.A.A.C.P. N.A.A.C.P. Office-Co
7-1058,
Co7-1059
JEWISH COMMUNITY COUNCIL
OF METROPOUTAN BOSTON
72 FRANKLIN STREET - SUITE 401 - BOSTON, MASS. 02110
HIRSH SHARF, President
HARRY J. GREENBLATT, Vice-President
RICHARD G. MINTz, Vice-President ALBERT SCHLOSSBERG, Vice-President
EDWARD J. BARSHAK, Secretary
GEORGE MICHELSON, Treasurer
Tel. Llherty 2-7525
RoBERT E. SEGAL, Executive Director
Ma~ch 22, 1967
Dear Rabbi,
To advance a proposal made by an ad hoc committee,
beaded by Mrs. Ruth Batson and Mr, Paul Parks and seeking to preserve
Massachusetts' pioneer Race Imbalance Law from attacks in the
legislature, I am writing you at the suggestion of and on behalf of Rabbi Earl Grollman, Social Aetion Chairman of the Massachusetts
BOCU'd of Rabbis.
Hearings on ten bills, calculated to repeal and/or
weaken the Race Imbalance Law 1 will be conducted Monday, March 27,
from 10 A.M. on in Room ~80 at the State House before the Joint
Committee on Education, Delegations of Protestant and Catholic
clergymen have agreed to be present for the bearings. The ad hoc
committee to ward off attacks on the Race Imbalance Law hopes that
you will be present also.
Should you care, in a4di tion • to express your support
of the Law in othel' ways, the enclosed literature may prove helpful ..
For ful'ther information or for additional copies of the literatul'e1
please call the office of the Jewish Community Council (5~2-7525).
RE:S/dnc en c.
Thank you for youl' kind interest.
SinceNly, ..j ' ' j ( I ) . . e}.,.c, / , · ... ...- ' '""'"'~....-· ..,..._ Robel't E. Segal · ; Executive Director
March 21, 1967
Dear Friend,
We are aware of your interest in peace and social concerns. I am enclosing literature that explains the purposes and the operation of the Massachusetts Race Imbalance Law, and the bills currently in the legislature that would repeal or weaken that law. After reading this literature, please do one or more of the following things, if it is possible for you.
1). Communicate with your representatives in the General Court, by letter, telegram, phone or in person, and urge them to oppose any weakening of the Race Imbalance Law.
2). Come to the hearing conducted by the Joint Committee on Education on March 27, from 10:00 A.M. until probably 4or 5 P.r-1
in Room 480, State House to show your opposition to any weakening · .:·
of the Law.
3). Call your friends and urge them to express their opposition to weakening of the Race Imbalance Law.
For further information you can call Mrs. Ruth Batson at 427-1545, or Mr. Bob Gustafson at 445-9711• I may be contacted by phone at 227-3111 or 427-1938. EB/dnc enclosure Sincerely, ! ·-. ... j / / --f I r _ . · ' (".r· .... ///~c t.C·l/J. /.t_. :-Ll2-. \ ... !':) ·" '--"'· /-· Erna Ballantine Commissioner MCAD
March
21, 1967
To: Senator Edward M. KennedyMr. Lester Hyman, Chairman of the Democratic Advisory Committee
From:Ruth Batson and Paul Parks
An ad hoc committee composed of representatives of a broad range of community organizations is seriously concerned about the efforts in the Massachusetts General Court to repeal or weaken the Racial Imbalance Law. We have studied every bill that has been introduced and we have decided that each of these bills is designed to weaken the Act.
We are giving wide distribution to literature which states our opposition to all of the amendments on the following grounds:
"1. One hundred and sixty-six Representatives voted to pass the Racial Imbalance Act in
1965
making Massachusetts the first state in the country to attack this serious problem. The law they passed is just, equitable and workable and has not been shown to have any major shortcomings. Now, when it is just starting to function and its pressure beginning to be felt, it should not be changed or suspended. We might as well stop a curejust when the patient begins to get better.
"2. The
u.s.
Civq .. ·Rights Commission, on February19,
1967,
recognized Massachusetts' leadership in this field. Dr.Thomas F. Pettigrew, the chief consultant for the Commission, recommended the imbalance law as a model for other states to follow. A rollback will be noted all over the country.
"3.
Senator Edward M. Kennedy is now filing nationalimbalance legislation. He opposes any pullback in Massachusetts at this time.
"4.
As there has been no demonstration of major errorin the Act, all changes are inappropriate while it is under consideration by the Supreme Judicial Court."
We feel that it is incumbent upon the leadership of the Democratic Party to speak strongly in opposition to all the