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20015263
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UCSD [University of California at San Diego] – Race Relations in Little Rock, Arkansas
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20015263
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UCSD [University of California at San Diego] – Race Relations in Little Rock, Arkansas
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Records of the Office of Speechwriting (Clinton Administration)
James (Terry) Edmonds' Files
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20015263
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42-t-7763294-20060462F-042-017-2014
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FOIA Number: 2006-0462-F
FOIA
MARKER
This is not a textual record. This is used as an
administrative marker by the William J. Clinton
Presidential Library Staff.
Collection/Record Group:
Clinton Presidential Records
Subgroup/Office of Origin:
Speechwriting
Series/Staff Member:
Terry Edmonds
Subseries:
OA/ID Number:
10989
FolderID:
Folder Title:
UCSD [University of California at San Diego] - Race Relations in Little Rock, Arkansas
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S
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Tenny
Memorandum
U.S. Department of Justice
Community Relations Service
Date
Subject
Assessment: Little Rock, Arkansas
May 29, 1997
To
Sylvia Matthews
From
Rose M. Ochi
Deputy Chief of Staff, COS
Director
For your information, I am providing you with an assessment of race relations in Little Rock,
Arkansas. This information is derived from two cases the Community Relations Service (CRS) is
working on in Little Rock. In August 1996, CRS was appointed by the Federal Court to mediate
desegregation issues involving all Pulaski County schools. In addition, at the request of the National
Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), CRS is involved in easing
community-wide racial tensions resulting from two separate police shooting incidents.
In 1957, pursuant to a Federal District Court's "Order to Desegregate," Central High School
in Little Rock was ordered to allow black students to attend classes. Since that date, the Federal
court has consolidated the desegregation order to include all schools in Pulaski County, as well as
the schools in Little Rock. Although attorneys for the Plaintiffs and the school district are engaged
in ongoing court-ordered mediation- efforts with CRS, there are many issues that remain unresolved,
including course programming, school athletics and educational opportunities.
The week of September 19-28, 1997, Little Rock is planning to commemorate the 40th
anniversary of school desegregation. However, there are some community groups and individuals
opposed to this celebration, because the school district is still under Federal court's jurisdiction and
monitoring. Furthermore, the planning committee does not include representatives from the NAACP,
plaintiffs in the original lawsuit.
Two other major issues have arisen which have increased racial tensions. In December, 1996,
there was a fatal shooting of a black male holding a black female hostage. When the police shot the
male, they also shot the female victim twice, in the face and arm. Critics allege that had the victim
been a white female, the police would have exercised more restraint before shooting
In January, 1997, two black males were fatally wounded by the police during a drug arrest.
It is alleged by some that they were shot in the back, though they were unarmed and had no weapons.
The police claim the suspects appeared to be reaching for weapons, though no weapons were found.
The results of the police investigation have not been made public.
There is a perception among young African Americans that police have targeted all black
youth as either drug users or dealers. There has been a call for a police citizen review board, which
is opposed by the City government, the police department, and the Chamber of Commerce. The City
Board of Managers has formed its own committee to investigate allegations of police misconduct.
However, this action has not resolved the conflict. There were two peaceful demonstrations in
January and February supporting the formation of a police citizen review board.
The second major issue concerns the use of minority contractors by the City of Little Rock.
A study by an independent auditing firm released in 1996 indicated that white firms were awarded
contracts over minority contractors, even when their bids were higher. Prior to the filing of a lawsuit
against the City, the City had been willing to consider mediation with the minority contractors.
However, further settlement discussions were stymied by the demands from white female contractors
demanding to be included as a separate party in negotiations. The minority contractors were willing
to include the white female contractors only if they were also required to be certified; this condition
was rejected by the white female contractors. A class action lawsuit by the minority contractors was
filed in federal court in May, 1997, when the stalemate was reached.
If national press attends the planned commemoration in Little Rock, there is a high probability
that the NAACP and other community groups would use this opportunity to voice their concerns
over these issues. In addition to the NAACP, there appears to be multi-racial community opposition
to holding a desegregation commemoration event when the lawsuit has not been fully resolved,
especially in the backdrop of current racial tensions.
For any additional information, please contact my Special Advisor, Byron Wong. His
telephone number is 202/305-2935.
cc:
Ann Lewis
Maria Echaveste
Ben Johnson