A coalition of North Carolina civil rights groups has asked the federal government to overturn the Wake County school board’s decision to end busing to achieve racial and economic diversity.

The group, led by the state NAACP, cited the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which forbids the use of tax dollars in discriminatory ways. Wake County, which includes Raleigh, receives nearly $78 million a year in federal support.

The complaint was filed Friday to the federal Department of Education.

"We've prayed, we've talked, we've walked, we've tried nonviolent civil disobedience," the Rev. William Barber, head of the state NAACP, was quoted as saying Saturday. "We have tried every other option."

Last November, Wake County voters elected a school board that gave a 5-4 majority to members who oppose busing. Those members say there are better ways to achieve diversity.

Groups including the NAACP have been protesting for months, and some members have been arrested for disrupting school board meetings. Opponents say the school board’s actions will have negative and disproportionate effects on non-whites.

Read more at NewsObserver.com.
 

Sign up for our Weekly Email Newsletter Email: For Email Marketing you can trust

Other Ways to Share Twitter Del.icio.us MySpace

Discussions and Submission Agreement