Box 9, Folder 23, Document 9

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Box 9, Folder 23, Document 9

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(( ROY WILKINS, Chairman

ARNOLD ARONSON, Secretary

eee E R Ss [Al ] Pp 7 JOSEPH L. RAUH, JR., Counsel
F ER 5 N Cc E \ CLARENCE M. MITCHELL, Legislative Chairman

Oo N MARVIN CAPLAN, Director Washington Office
c I Vi L R l GS Hi TS \t J. FRANCIS POHLHAUS, Special Consultant

YVONNE PRICE, Executive Assistant

2027 Mass. Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036 phone 667-1780 ® New York address: 20 West 40th St., New York 10018, phone BRyant 9-1400

THE LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE- ON CIVIL RIGHTS:

WHAT IT IS AND DOES

It Speaks For Millions



In the last 17 years the Leadership Conference
on Civil Rights has become a unique spokesman: the
voice for 112 national organizations when they join to-
gether to urge new civil rights laws upon Congress and
when they press for strong enforcement of existing laws.

The Conference is a coalition of major civil
rights, labor, religious, civic and fraternal groups
whose strength lies in its unity. “When the Conference
comes out in support of a pending bill or urges a course
of action upon the government, it speaks on behalf of
millions of Americans of all races, creeds, religions,
and ethnic groups and from all walks of life.

Its Purpose

In its statement of purpose, the Conference de-

clares itself as "a voluntary, nonpartisan association

of autonomous national organizations seeking to advance

“Cooperation in the Common Cause of Civil Rights for All”

Sa)
PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS

AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH

AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL ZION CHURCH
ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY, INC.

ALPHA PHI ALPHA FRATERNITY, INC.

AMALGAMATED CLOTHING WORKERS OF AMERICA
AMALGAMATED MEAT CUTTERS & BUTCHER WORKMEN
AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION

AMERICAN ETHICAL UNION

AMERICAN FEDERATION OF LABOR— CONGRESS OF INDUSTRIAL
ORGANIZATIONS

AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE COUNTY & MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES
AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS

AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE

AMERICAN JEWISH CONGRESS

AMERICAN NEWSPAPER GUILD

AMERICAN VETERANS COMMITTEE

AMERICANS FOR DEMOCRATIC ACTION

ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE OF B'NAI B’RITH

A. PHILIP RANDOLPH INSTITUTE

BISHOP’S COMMITTEE FOR THE SPANISH SPEAKING

B‘NAL B’RITH WOMEN

BROTHERHOOD OF SLEEPING CAR PORTERS

CHRISTIAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH

CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN - BRETHREN SERVICE COMMISSION
CHURCH WOMEN UNITED

CITIZENS LOBBY FOR FREEDOM & FAIR PLAY

COLLEGE YCS NATIONAL STAFF

CONGRESS OF RACIAL EQUALITY

DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY

EPISCOPAL CHURCH — DIVISION OF CHRISTIAN CITIZENSHIP
EPISCOPAL SOCIETY FOR CULTURAL AND RACIAL UNITY :
FRANCISCAN JURISDICTION OF THE THIRD ORDER OF ST. FRANCIS
FRONTIERS INTERNATIONAL

HADASSAH -

HOTEL AND RESTAURANT EMPLOYEES AND BARTENDERS
INTERNATIONAL UNION

IMPROVED BENEVOLENT & PROTECTIVE ORDER OF ELKS OF THE WORLD
INDUSTRIAL UNION DEPARTMENT — AFL-CIO

INTERNATIONAL LADIES GARMENT WORKERS’ UNION GF AMERICA
INTERNATIONAL UNION OF ELECTRICAL RADIO & MACHINE WORKERS
JOTA PHI LAMBDA SORORITY, INC.

JAPANESE AMERICAN CITIZENS LEAGUE

JEWISH LABOR COMMITTEE

JEWISH WAR VETERANS

LABOR ZIONIST ORGANIZATION OF AMERICA

LEAGUE FOR INDUSTRIAL DEMOCRACY

LUTHERAN CHURCH IN AMERICA— BOARD OF SOCIAL MINISTRY
MEDICAL COMMITTEE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

NATIONAL ALLIANCE OF POSTAL & FEDERAL EMPLOYEES

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGE WOMEN

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COLORED WOMEN’S CLUBS, INC,

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF NEGRO BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL
WOMEN'S CLUBS, INC.

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REAL ESTATE BROKERS, INC,
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SOCIAL WORKERS

NATIONAL BAPTIST CONVENTION, U. S. A.

NATIONAL BAR ASSOCIATION

.

NATIONAL BEAUTY CULTURISTS' LEAGUE, INC.

NATIONAL CATHGLIC CONFERENCE FOR INTERRACIAL JUSTICE
NATIONAL CATHOLIC SOCIAL ACTION CONFERENCE

QNAL COMMUNITY RELATIONS ADVISORY COUNCIL
COUNCIL OF CATHOLIC MEN

INCIL QF CATHOLIC WOMEN

NATIONAL COUNCIL OF CHURCHES — COMMISSION ON
RELIGION & RACE

NATIONAL COUNCIL OF JEWISH WOMEN

NATIONAL COUNCIL OF NEGRO WOMEN
NATIOGNAL.COUNGIL OF PUERTO RICAN VOLUNTEERS, INC.
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF SENIOR CITIZENS, INC.

NATIONAL DENTAL ASSOCIATION

NATIONAL FARMERS UNION

NATIONAL FEDERATION OF CATHOLIC COLLEGE STUDENTS
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF SETTLEMENTS & NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS
NATIONSL FEDERATION OF TEMPLE SISTERHOODS
NATIONAL. JEWISH WELFARE BOARD

MEDICAL ASSOCIATION -

NEWMAN STUDENT FEDERATION

NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION
ORGANIZATION FOR MEXICAN-AMERICAN SERVICES
NATIGNAL ORGANIZATION FOR WOMEN

NATIONAL SHARECROPPERS FUND

NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE

NEGRO AMERICAN LABOR COUNCIL

OMEGA FSI PHI FRATERNITY, INC,

PH! BETA SIGMA FRATERNITY, INC.

PH! DELTA KAPPA SORORITY

PIONEER WOMEN, AMERICAN AFFAIRS

PRESBYTERIAN INTERRACIAL COUNCIL

RETAIL WHOLESALE & DEPARTMENT STORE UNION
SOUTHERN BEAUTY CONGRESS, INC.

SOUTHERN CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE







IATIONAL

NATIONAL
NATIONAL
NATIONAL

NATIONAL

- TEXTILE WORKERS UNION OF AMERICA

TRANSPORT WORKERS UNION OF AMERICA
UNION OF AMERICAN HEBREW CONGREGATIONS

UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST ASSOCIATION — COMMISSION ON RELIGION
& RACE

UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST WOMEN'S FEDERATION

UNITED AUTOMOBILE WORKERS OF AMERICA

UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST — COMMITTEE FOR RACIAL JUSTICE Now
UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST — COUNCIL FOR CHRISTIAN SOCIAL ACTION
UNITED HEBREW TRADES
UNITED PACKINGHOUSE, FOOD & ALLIED WORKERS

UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH — COMMISSION ON RELIGION & RACE
UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH — OFFICE OF CHURCH & SOCIETY
UNITED RUBBER WORKERS ;

UNITED STATES NATIONAL STUDENT ASSOCIATION

UNITED STATES YOUTH COUNCIL

UNITED STEELWORKERS OF AMERICA

UNITED SYNAGOGUE OF AMERICA

UNITED TRANSPORT SERVICE EMPLOYEES

UNIVERSITY CHRISTIAN MOVEMENT

WOMEN'S INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE FOR PEACE & FREEDOM

WORKERS DEFENSE LEAGUE

WORKMEN'S CIRCLE

YOUNG WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION OF THE USA

ZETA PH! BETA SORORITY
civil rights for all Americans through government action
at the national level. By civil rights we mean not only
the establishment and enforcement of rights in law,
but also the realization of social and economic con-
ditions in which alone the fulfillment of these rights
is possible."
How the Conference Began

The Leadership Conference was formed in 1950
by national organizations whose leaders felt that while
they often spoke and acted separately, there were many
occasions when they could make a greater impact upon
official Washington and the general public if they join-
ed together in support of specific issues,

The Conference merged two existing groups:
the National Council for a Permanent FEPC, headed
by Ae Philip Randolph, and the National Emergency
Civil Rights Mobilization headed by Roy Wilkins and
Arnold Aronson. All three men continue to play impor-
tant roles in the Conference: Mr. Wilkins is Chairman,
Mry Randolph is a member of the Executive Committee,
and Mr. Aronson is Secretary.
How the Conference Grew

From the first, the Conference undertook to
unite its groups behind specific civil rights bills. As
it grew in numbers it grew in influence. The Conference
has coordinated all the national campaigns for major
civil rights bills. Its greatest successes were the
series of civil rights laws passed by Congress since
1957. The most notable laws in this group were the Civil
Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
But the Conference dces not work just to add
laws to statute books. Its organizations know laws
are worth little unless they are adequately enforced.
It campaigns untiringly for adequate funds to keep
existing programs going and for adequate enforcement.
How the Conference Operates
The Conference functions through three main
Committees: the Executive Committee which sets policy
for the organization; the Legislative Committee, under
the Chairmanship of Giaeene sMegeRstl: which plans
strategy for pending bills; and the Committee on Com-
pliance and Enforcement, under James Hamilton of
the National Council of Churches, which works to see
that the laws are administered strongly and effectively.
How the Conference Keeps Its Groups Informed

The Conference tries to keep in constant touch
with its organizations. It sends them regular MEMOs
that set forth the immediate legislative situation and
suggest what groups can do to help mobilize support
for a bill or a course of action. It publishes analyses
of bills, pamphlets, papers on what still needs to be
done to achieve full equality.
Not Civil Rights Alone

Over the years the Conference has broadened
its concerns. It realizes that the fight for full equality
and the War on Poverty are interconnected. In ad-
dition to campaigning for civil rights bills it has also
worked for passage of an adequate minimum wage law,;
for reapportioned state legislatures so that they repre-
sent more truly all the people ina state; for broad
educational opportunity; for adequate food distribution
to the country's poor; for home rule for the District
of Columbia; for school desegregation.

These are only a few of its campaigns. The
Conference remains today firm in its belief that pro-
gress in civil rights is the concern of every American,

not the interest of any one group. It believes, in Roy
Wilkins’ words, that "we are all tied together" and
that the future for America must be an integrated future;
a nation in which all men and women share equally in

its burdens and its benefits. Its motto is still:

“Cooperation in the Common Cause of Civil Rights for All"

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