Edwin Washington Project

EWP 1 ByrdSegregation003

Item

Title

EWP 1 ByrdSegregation003

Place

Virginia

Identifier

1000527

Is Version Of

1000527_EWP_ByrdSegregation003.jpg

Is Part Of

Uncategorized

Date Created

2024-01-07

Format

Jpeg Image

Number

1619250e0d8fec17aef9b045299e62d15bc2aafb57abd8bec29c3c7a7a6f7eed

Source

/Volumes/T7 Shield/EWP/Elements/EWP_Files/Access Files/Upload temp/1000527_EWP_ByrdSegregation003.jpg

Publisher

Digitized by Edwin Washington Project

Rights

Loudoun County Public Schools

Language

English

Replaces

/Volumes/T7 Shield/EWP/Elements/EWP_Files/source/Ingest One/1 Civil Rights/integration_folder/Emerick_Files/EWP_ByrdSegregation003.jpg

extracted text

e 9 -



Tt is disturbing to review the various decisions that have been made on
the question of segregation in the public schoeols and to note that the present
Supreme Court nullified all previous decisions, without indicating wherein
the previous decisions were in error. _

In other words, for 160 years, the eminent jurists who served on the
Supreme Court of the United States did not nullify segregation that existed
through that period, but, to the contrary, by specific decisions, upheld segre-
gated schools on a basis of their being equal but separate. '

The May 1954 decision of the Supreme Court was not based upon any law or
upon any change in the Federal Constitution that had been enacted since the
last decision upholding segregation.

In my varicus pubtlic pcsitions, I have done all I could to uphold law and
order. As Covernor of Virginia, I presented to the General Assembly in 1926,
and the Cenera) Acserbly adopted it, a recommendation meking the crime of
lynching one of murder on the part of those who were in the mob.

That lynching law, enacted in 1926, 1s the strongest anti-lynching law
that ever has been enczcted, before or since, in any State in the Union. Since
that date, Virginia has not had a single lynching.

et us not mislead ourselves as to our serious situvation. The battle to
preserve our public school system may lest for many years, and we may find it
necessary to change our tactics from time to time. OSome believe that the Wash-
ington fourt will begin to fine and imprison school officials in Virginia
next Seniember unless integration is in operation throughout the State. If
such drastic mesaures are adopted, I believe Virginians will find some way to
preserve woct they feel is right.

The Supveme Court itself recognized the terrific impact of its decision
when they ilLemoelves postponed the effective date, and even now have not set
a date for irtepration, except to say that integration should profsed with
Pdeliberats soecl.” I feel that the emphasis should be on "deli¥ rate"
rather thaiu oa "speed',

If cepregrticn vas illegal on May 17, 1954, as declared by the Supre.= Court
then it was 1'l22ul in September, 1954, when the Supreme Court permitted the
schools to cotvinue on a segregated basis.

Virginia mist do all inits power tc prevent the destruction of an agency
of government -~ the public schools -- which is absolutely essential for the
welfare anl fuature progress of our State.

I trust virzinia will take adequate time to feel our way along. Ten other
Stetes are confronted with the same acute problem. These States are all Meeking
a way tc pressive their schools, and it is possible that some form of action
can be accepted as a pattern for all.

TOWARDS COMMON ATTITUDE

As developments occur, and the resistance of the South continues, it 18
possible, I believe, that there can be some degree of coalition between the
11 Southern States which will strengthen the position of the individual State.

Iet us preceed firmly and courageously, but, to my way of thinking, there
is no occasion for precipitous action in the immediate future., The conditions
confronting us are such that we will succeed better by going forward on a
flexible basis or on a basis of stand-by legislation than by attempting at
this time to enact complete and final legislation to begin with the school
term of next September. ,

I want to emphasize one more thing: If the public school system in the
areas of the State where the Negroes predominate is destroyed, it will be the
Negroes that will suffer more than the whites, as the cost of schools is borne
nearly entirely by the white population.

let me repeat, the election on January 9 is of great consequence, because-
1t will be the first decision by the people of Virginia on this vital question.
Te defeat it at this time will unguestionably greatly prejudice the futuce
efforts of the Covernor and the General Assembly to protect our citizens from

AWt ] o Ay o3 e ol o ameonen e o amam




Item sets

EWP 01 Civil Rights