Amusement Park Bias In Cleveland Outlawed by Ordinance

“Many believe this to be the nation’s first Civil Rights Legislation.”

Rufus J. Allen

Registered Public Accountant

He fought hard for a legislation until 1946 when the Euclid Beach Mandate was passed prohibiting any amusement center in the city from racial segregation and discrimination with the loss of license as the penalty…”

Cleveland Plain Dealer

On Monday, September 16,  1946 Atty. Charles V. Carr introduced an emergency ordinance designed to outlaw discriminatory practices in Cleveland amusement parks at a council meeting.

This action grew our of a series of assaults and battery charges brought before city courts against Euclid Beach  policemen.  Car took the matter up with Mayor Thomas E. Burke, and his Amity Council, in the Mayor’s office and suggested the ruling that will be applied to all public parks.

“Many believe this to be the nation’s first Civil Rights Legislation.”

Rufus J. Allen

Registered Public Accountant

The God Father of Black American Politicians

By John Bustamante, former Chairman, First Bank

First published March 1982 in , A Salute to Charles V. Carr: Highlights involving the life story of a great man.

Charles V. Carr was not only a legend in Cleveland– he is a man for all seasons.  While his political accomplishments, public services, his early stance as defender of human civil rights are weil lknown–there is another Charles V. Carr that many of the young prople do not know and it may have slipped the memory of some of others.

I was Chairman of First Bank and am particularly rpoud of Mr. Carr as a pioneer in the firld of economics.  I becoame a student of his philosophy after realizing some of his immeasurable achievements.   He blazed the trail for Blacks in establishing a savings and loan assocation an insurance company a credit union and several businesses. I salute him for his knowledge and power of persuasion in bringing Blacks together and holding them together.

John Bustamante