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Edna Griffin biographical information, 1998
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Historic Site Civil Rights Victory Katz Drug Store July 7, 1948 At this site where Katz Drug Store once stood, on July 7, 1948 at 3:45 p.m. Edna Griffin, her infant daughter Phyllis, John Bibbs and Leonard Hudson entered the store and ordered ice cream at the lunch counter. The manager refused to serve them, saying " It is the policy of our store that we don't serve colored." Outraged members of the community responded with sit-ins and picketing directed at Katz and other local lunch counters refusing to serve patrons based on their race. The Polk County Attorney's Office prosecuted the Katz manager under Iowa's only civil rights law, a criminal statute prohibiting discrimination in public accommodations. The manager was found guilty by a jury and fined $50. The Iowa Supreme Court upheld the conviction in 1949. One week before the Supreme Court ruling, civil rights attorneys Charles P. Howard and Henry T. McKnight, who was head of the local NAACP Legal Redress Committee, negotiated the agreement which successfully ended Katz's discriminatory practices. These events foreshadowed with modern civil rights movement. Through non-violent protest and legal action in the courts, the movement ended tolerance of open discrimination in our country and resulted in policies and laws prohibiting racial discrimination. It may truly be said that those who opposed the discriminatory denial of service at Katz led the way. This plaque is dedicated to those citizens. Dedicated July 7, 1998 Text of plaque to be dedicated July 7, 1998. The plaque will be placed on the Flynn Building ( former location of Katz Drug Store.) SE corner of 7th & Locust Streets, Des Moines. Iowa Civil RIghts Commission 515-281-4121 1-800-457-4416 512-242-5840 FAX www.state.la.us/government/crc Editor Carol Anne Leach Executive Director Don Grove Iowa Civil Rights Commission Communicator 211 E. Maple St., 2nd Fl. Des Moines, IA 50309-1858 Bulk Rate U.S Postage PAID Permit No. 1195 Des Moines IA
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Historic Site Civil Rights Victory Katz Drug Store July 7, 1948 At this site where Katz Drug Store once stood, on July 7, 1948 at 3:45 p.m. Edna Griffin, her infant daughter Phyllis, John Bibbs and Leonard Hudson entered the store and ordered ice cream at the lunch counter. The manager refused to serve them, saying " It is the policy of our store that we don't serve colored." Outraged members of the community responded with sit-ins and picketing directed at Katz and other local lunch counters refusing to serve patrons based on their race. The Polk County Attorney's Office prosecuted the Katz manager under Iowa's only civil rights law, a criminal statute prohibiting discrimination in public accommodations. The manager was found guilty by a jury and fined $50. The Iowa Supreme Court upheld the conviction in 1949. One week before the Supreme Court ruling, civil rights attorneys Charles P. Howard and Henry T. McKnight, who was head of the local NAACP Legal Redress Committee, negotiated the agreement which successfully ended Katz's discriminatory practices. These events foreshadowed with modern civil rights movement. Through non-violent protest and legal action in the courts, the movement ended tolerance of open discrimination in our country and resulted in policies and laws prohibiting racial discrimination. It may truly be said that those who opposed the discriminatory denial of service at Katz led the way. This plaque is dedicated to those citizens. Dedicated July 7, 1998 Text of plaque to be dedicated July 7, 1998. The plaque will be placed on the Flynn Building ( former location of Katz Drug Store.) SE corner of 7th & Locust Streets, Des Moines. Iowa Civil RIghts Commission 515-281-4121 1-800-457-4416 512-242-5840 FAX www.state.la.us/government/crc Editor Carol Anne Leach Executive Director Don Grove Iowa Civil Rights Commission Communicator 211 E. Maple St., 2nd Fl. Des Moines, IA 50309-1858 Bulk Rate U.S Postage PAID Permit No. 1195 Des Moines IA
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