A Timeline of Boston School Desegregation, 1961-1985

1964July 29AugustAugust 15August 19August 20August 29September 5September 7September 11September 13September 22January 6January 12Early FebruaryMid-FebruaryPeters, Rev. Nathan Wright, Ruth Batson, Ernest Headley, Ms. George Keeley,Ms. Harry Elan, and Alice Yancey.BSC offices are picketed. Protesters demanded that the committee meet withthe NAACP's Education committee, though the event was not organized orendorsed by the NAACP itself. Access to BSC offices was blocked by humanchain for one hour in the morning. The majority of protesters were white.In part as a result of the July 29 demonstration, the BSC engages in a series ofmeetings with with the NAACP Education committee on Boston schoolsegregation.BSC ceases its meetings with the NAACP Education Committee and refuses todiscuss “de facto segregation” any further.The Massachusetts Board of Education (BOE) condemns de facto segregationand urges the elimination of racial imbalance in schools throughout theCommonwealth.Gov. Peabody states that segregation exists in the Commonwealth's schools andthat it must be overcome. He also suggests that the NAACP stop using thephrase “de facto segregation.”Kenneth Guscott, President of the NAACP Boston extends an invitation to BSCto continue talks and indicates his willingness to reach a settlement by avoidingthe “de facto” issue.Superintendent Gillis announces adoption of an “open enrollment” plan, inwhich students could attend any public school if parents provide transportation.Eight black and white demonstrators occupy BSC offices overnight whilepicketers marched outside in support of school desegregation.NAACP stages a sit-in at BSC headquarters.The NAACP Boston chapter decides to take its confrontation with BSC to thecourts.BSC member Louise Day Hicks rules out gerrymandering school districts as ameans to achieve integration.“March on Roxbury” takes place to highlight the unequal educationalopportunity and other conditions cause by racial discrimination. At thegathering, Thomas Atkins, NAACP Executive Secretary, urged blacks to vote.William O'Connor elected as chairman of BSC.Rep. Melvin King states that de facto segregation exists outside of Bostonschools, citing Cambridge and Lynn.Mostly-white suburbanites begin to join demonstrations and protests againstschool desegregation in Boston.NAACP files six bills in the state legislature on employment and education.The organization is in preparations to file suit against BSC in federal court.CORE files charges of discrimination against BSC for maintaining racially5