Congresswoman Wilson's Statement on the Anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.) issued the following statement on the anniversary of the 1954 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education that racially-segregated public schools were unconstitutional:

“Today in 1954, the Supreme Court ruled in Brown v. Board of Education that ‘separate-but-equal’ public schools were unconstitutional. Their landmark decision was a watershed moment in the civil rights movement, leading to all kinds of integration – from schools to buses to water fountains to restaurants to restrooms to theaters. These changes made our country stronger and gave everyone a real chance at achieving the American Dream regardless of the color of their skin.

“Now, we must turn our attention to another form of public school segregation. For-profit charter schools – segregated into white, black and Hispanic – are mushrooming across Miami and the state of Florida, and they are chipping away at the foundation of public education. These for-profit charter schools are undermining the intent of the Supreme Court’s ruling in Brown v. Board of Education. We cannot go back to the days of public school segregation.”

    
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Rep. Frederica S. Wilson is a first-term Congresswoman representing the 17th District of Florida, including Northern Miami-Dade and Southeast Broward Counties. A former state legislator and school principal, she is the founder of the 5000 Role Models for Excellence Project, a mentoring program for young males at risk of dropping out of school.