New York, NY, May 6, 2004—Marking the 50th anniversary of the landmark 1954 Supreme Court school desegregation decision, Brown v. Board of Education, the National Urban League today hosted a special screening of the powerful new documentary, "With All Deliberate Speed," at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Directed by award-winning filmmaker Peter Gilbert (Hoop Dreams), the film features original footage of interviews with the students who brought the case, as well as a behind-the-scenes look at the Supreme Court decision to dismantle segregation in our nation\'s schools. The documentary will be released nationally in theaters beginning May 14.

"May 17, 1954 was a day that changed America forever," said Marc H. Morial, President & CEO, National Urban League. "The Brown v. Board of Education ruling marked the beginning of the legal dismantling of segregation in our nation\\\'s schools and the beginning of the march towards equity. "With All Deliberate Speed," shows with gripping clarity how tough the struggle for freedom and equality was in 20^th century America-and suggests how unfinished it remains."

Brown v. Board of Education, Topeka repudiated the nation\\\'s segregated school systems. In a unanimous decision the Supreme Court, under the leadership of Chief Justice Earl Warren, ruled that the doctrine of "separate but equal," violated the 14th amendment rights of America\\\'s children by separating them solely on the basis of skin color. The court\\\'s ruling struck down legalized school segregation in the South and overturned the "separate but equal," doctrine of 1896\\\'s Plessy v. Ferguson.

A panel discussion, "Brown at Fifty?Still on the Journey," followed the ninety-minute documentary. Moderated by George E. Curry, Editor-in-Chief, National Newspaper Publishers Association News Service, panelists included: Brian Jones, General Counsel, U.S. Department of Education; Derrick Bell, Visiting Professor of Law, New York University; Dr. Adelaide Sanford, Vice Chancellor, New York State Board of Regents; Gary Orfield, Professor of Education and Social Policy, Harvard University and Peter Gilbert, award-winning filmmaker "Hoop Dreams," and director, "With All Deliberate Speed." The discussion was presided over by Lee A. Daniels, Vice President, Publications, National Urban League. Remarks were made by Marc H. Morial, National Urban League President & CEO; Carlyle Leach, Director, Junior Scholars Program, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture; and Karen Proctor, Director, Community Affairs, Scholastic Inc.

The fiftieth anniversary celebration was sponsored by Scholastic, Inc, the largest publisher and distributor of children\\\'s books in the world, serving millions of children, families and schools. The documentary was co-produced by CameraPlanet and Discovery Networks.

The National Urban League will continue its recognition of Brown v. Board of Education at its conference, July 21-25 in Detroit, Michigan at the Cobo Center. A National Education Summit, entitled, "Brown v. Board of Education: How Far Have We Come? How Far Do We Have to Go?" will feature noted speakers: Professor Charles J. Ogletree, jr., Harvard Law School; Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr., President & Founder, Rainbow/PUSH Coalition; Derrick Bell, author and professor, New York University, School of Law; the Honorable Constance Baker Motley, United States District Judge, New York-Southern District; Dr. James P. Comer, Maurice Falk Professor of Child Psychiatry, Yale Child Study Center; Ted Shaw, Director-Counsel Designee, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund; Dr. Beverly L. Hall, Superintendent, Atlanta Public Schools; and Dr. Eric J. Smith, Superintendent, Anne Arundel Public Schools, MD. The Summit launches the League\\\'s National Commission on Education.