Play Ball

Ruled unconstitutional last week: a 1956 Louisiana law prohibiting Negroes from participating in sports events with whites. A three-judge federal court (including Judge John Minor Wisdom, head of the contested Eisenhower delegation to the Republican National Convention in 1952) ruled that the Louisiana statute violates the equal-protection clause of the 14th Amendment, issued a temporary injunction to prevent the state from enforcing the law. Plaintiff in the lawsuit: Joe Dorsey, New Orleans Negro light-heavyweight prizefighter. Biggest probable beneficiary: the Sugar Bowl, which for two years has had trouble getting top Northern football teams, most of which have Negro players.

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