Scott Statement on the Passing of Civil Rights Activist Linda Brown

As originally released by the Committee on Education and the Workforce, Democrats

WASHINGTON, DC – Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement on the passing of Linda Brown, who, as a young child, was at the center of the Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision that ended legal segregation in public education:

"The courage and conviction of a nine-year-old girl named Linda Brown and her family serve as a powerful marker in our nation's long march toward educational equity. The 1954 landmark Supreme Court case that bears her name etched a powerful phrase into this country's history: ‘separate educational facilities are inherently unequal.' Yet today, more than 60 years after this decision, millions of public school students remain segregated by race and relegated to under-resourced, over-disciplined, and unequal educational opportunities. While the era of legal Jim Crow may be history, educational discrimination continues to threaten equal access to a quality public education. The work of Linda Brown is far from over.

The country owes a huge debt to Ms. Brown for her sacrifice and perseverance. In her passing, we celebrate not only her life's work, but also the advocacy she inspired in countless others. I offer my heartfelt condolences to her family during this difficult time, and I vow to honor her life and legacy through continued efforts in Congress to improve educational equity for all children."

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