A Timeline of Boston School Desegregation, 1961-1985

toward integration.1973January 5January 15January 23January 28February 2February 5February 8February 15February 27March 1Final briefs are submitted in the HEW / HUD hearings on violations of the CivilRights Act. 85Judge Sullivan files report with SJC saying that BSC alone has “the necessarydata, personnel, and expertise” needed to integrate the city's schools. 86BOE votes to withhold $50 million in funds to BSC pending an outcome of thecase currently before the SJC. 87Mayor Kevin White criticizes BOE for withholding funds from Boston schoolsand promises to “do everything possible to retrieve the money. 88 ”SJC upholds the Superior Court's order that BSC prepare an integration plan forBoston schools and denies the city's request for interest on the withheld stateschool aid. 89Trial begins in Morgan v. Hennigan before Federal District Court Judge ArthurGarrity. 90Federal District Court Judge Stephen Roth of Michigan becomes first federaljudge to order a northern city (Detroit) to involve suburban cities in busingprograms as part of desegregation plans. 91SJC hears arguments in appeal by BOE over Suffolk Superior Court's rejectionof its integration plans.SJC overturns Judge Sullivan's December 18 rejection of BOE's integrationplan, but nonetheless orders the state to produce a new or revised plan by March19. The court also refused to order, at the City of Boston's request, that the statewas prohibited from withholding additional funds from Boston schools. 92John Coakley of the Educational Planning Center, testifies in federal court inMorgan v. Hennigan that BSC never showed any concrete interest in integratingBoston's schools. 93More than 1000 black and white parents and politicians attend the eighth annualhearings on the Racial Imbalance Act. All five members of BSC spoke in favorof repealing the law, while Mayor Kevin White and four members of thelegislative black caucus spoke in favor of the Act. 94 Opposition to the law wasparticularly heated from Rep. George DiLorenzo (D-East Boston), who poundedthe podium as he proclaimed the state “will never, never, never, bus in East85 Muriel L. Cohen, “The Boston Case: Federal imbalance trial Jan. 22 could order unprecedented suburban busing forHub pupils,” Boston Globe, Jan. 7, 1973.86 Muriel Cohen, “Judge says Boston should plan school balance,” Boston Globe, Jan. 16, 1973.87 “State witholds $50m from Boston till court acts on imbalance,” Boston Globe, Jan. 24, 1973.88 Untitled article,” Boston Globe, Jan. 28, 1973.89 Muriel Cohen, “High court upholds Boston imbalance ruling,” Boston Globe, Feb. 3, 1973; see also MRC Packet at 19.90 Muriel Cohen, “Federal state school bias trials open in Hub,” Boston Globe, Feb. 4, 1973.91 Id.92 USCOCR Report at 76; “State high court sets new date for Boston school balance plan,” Boston Globe, Feb. 16, 1973.93 “Hub school board accused of disinterest in balance,” Boston Globe, Feb. 28, 1973.94 James Worsham & Jonathan Fuerbringer, “1000 jam State House for imbalance hearing,” Boston Globe, Mar. 2, 1973.20