Wilmington in New Castle County, Delaware — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Burton V. Wilmington Parking Authority
Photographed By Don Morfe, September 28, 2019
1. Burton V. Wilmington Parking Authority Marker
Inscription.
Burton V. Wilmington Parking Authority. . In August 1958, Wilmington City Councilman and Civil Rights activist William “Dutch” Burton worked with the NAACP to expose the racially discriminatory practices of the Eagle Coffee Shoppe. The restaurant was located on this site in a complex owned and operated by the Wilmington Parking Authority. When Burton was denied service at the Eagle due to his race, attorney Louis L. Redding filed suit against the Authority. The case was appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, which decided in favor of Burton in 1961. The Court ruled that private tenants of a public facility were bound by the 14th Amendment and could not discriminate on the basis of race.
In August 1958, Wilmington City Councilman and Civil Rights activist William “Dutch” Burton worked with the NAACP to expose the racially discriminatory practices of the Eagle Coffee Shoppe. The restaurant was located on this site in a complex owned and operated by the Wilmington Parking Authority. When Burton was denied service at the Eagle due to his race, attorney Louis L. Redding filed suit against the Authority. The case was appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, which decided in favor of Burton in 1961. The Court ruled that private tenants of a public facility were bound by the 14th Amendment and could not discriminate on the basis of race.
Erected 2018 by Delaware Public Archives. (Marker Number NCC-238.)
Location. 39° 44.694′ N, 75° 32.94′ W. Marker is in Wilmington, Delaware, in New Castle County. Marker is at the intersection of North Shipley Street and W. 9th Street on North Shipley Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Wilmington DE 19801, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within
Credits. This page was last revised on August 19, 2020. It was originally submitted on October 4, 2019, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 264 times since then and 37 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on October 4, 2019, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
