Readout of President Biden’s Meeting With Brown v. Board Plaintiffs and their Families

In honor of the 70^th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education, President Joe Biden hosted a delegation of plaintiffs and family members representing the historic decision in the Oval Office. Members of the delegation represented litigants from the five cases that were combined under the Brown v. Board decision, including Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Briggs v. Elliott, Davis v. County School Board of Prince Edward County, Belton (Bulah) v. Gebhart, and Bolling v. Sharpe.

President Biden reiterated his longstanding effort to honor the legacy of historic changemakers that paved the way for progress and hard-fought rights for Black Americans and all Americans. The President and the delegation also highlighted the continued need to advance educational equity and underscored the White House’s strong commitment to addressing racial disparities in our education system, despite attacks on educational rights, the erasure of Black history, and the elimination of affirmative action in university admissions. President Biden and Vice President Harris remain committed to driving greater equality and opportunity within our education system and society.

The meeting participants included:

Brown v. Board Family Members:

• Cheryl Brown Henderson: Daughter of Named Plaintiff, Oliver Brown
• Darl Everett, Jr.
• Victoria Benson
• Jeffrey Benson
• Lusandra Everett

Briggs v. Elliott Family Members:                                                         

• Ada Stukes Adderley
• Ky Adderley
• Dawn Lucas
• Nathaniel Briggs: Son of Named Plaintiff, Briggs

Davis v. County School Board of Prince Edward Family Members:

• John Stokes: Original Plaintiff
• Joan Cobbs
• Ernest Johns
• Robert Johns
• Roderick Johns

Gebhart v. Belton Family Members:

• Joan Anderson
• Original Plaintiff
• Carol Anderson Neff
• Tai Ingram
• Christopher Michael Neff
• Rene Ricks-Stamps: Daughter of Named Plaintiff, Belton

Bolling v. Sharpe Family Members:

• Adrienne Jennings Bennett: Original Plaintiff
• Curtis Bennet, Sr.
• Curtis Bennet, Jr.
• Kim Relaford
• Letitia Alexander

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