Civil rights attorney W. Hale Thompson to be honored at Pearl Bailey Library

Attorney W. Hale Thompson filed a lawsuit in 1950 that led to the desegregation of the Newport News Public Library System.

The Pearl Bailey Library in Newport News will hold a ceremony from 2-4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 25, renaming the community room in honor of the late W. Hale Thompson.

Thompson, 1914-66, was a Hampton attorney and instrumental in the desegregation of the Newport News Public Library. His lawsuit, filed in 1950 in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, led to the library becoming one of the first facilities in Newport News to be desegregated, according to a press release.

The ceremony is open to the public. Reservations should be made by Tuesday, Aug. 21.

Pearl Bailey Library is part of the Newport News Public Library system. It is located at 2510 Wickham Ave., Newport News.

For registration information, call Anita Jennings, supervising librarian, at 757-247-8677 or email ajennings@nngov.com.
 

Filed under: COMMUNITY