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U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige and U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft today announced the creation of the Brown v. Board of Education 50th Anniversary Commission to encourage and coordinate activities that will commemorate the 1954 ruling, one of the most important decisions ever issued by the U.S. Supreme Court.

"The Supreme Court's 1954 decision in Brown v. Board of Education dramatically opened the doors of opportunity to countless numbers of Americans, including me," Secretary Paige said. "It is fitting that we will be celebrating the anniversary of this landmark decision at a time when our nation has embarked upon the most sweeping education reforms in decades under the president's No Child Left Behind law. The Brown decision is a stark reminder that we must not rest until all children, no matter their race or ethnicity, no matter whether they live in an urban, suburban or rural school district, no matter whether or not they have a disability, have access to a high-quality education. Full implementation of the new federal law, including accountability and opportunity for students to learn, is one way to stay true to the principles of the Brown decision," Secretary Paige said.

The 50th anniversary of the Brown decision is May 17, 2004. The commission will work with the Department of Education and the Brown Foundation to "plan and coordinate public education activities and initiatives, including public lectures, writing contests and public awareness campaigns." The co-chairs of the commission are Gerald Reynolds, assistant secretary of education for civil rights and Ralph F. Boyd Jr., assistant attorney general for civil rights. President Bush worked with leaders from the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives to select distinguished Americans from across the country to serve as commissioners.

"Brown v. Board of Education was truly a watershed decision in American jurisprudence," said Attorney General Ashcroft. "The Supreme Court eliminated the offensive 'separate but equal' doctrine and laid the groundwork for the civil rights movement that has been critical to ensuring justice and quality for all Americans."

Cheryl Brown Henderson, president of the Brown Foundation for Educational Equity, Excellence and Research, applauded the announcement of the commission.

"I am so pleased that the president and the Congress established this commission to help coordinate and encourage the commemoration of the anniversary of the Brown decision," Cheryl Brown Henderson said. "I look forward to working closely with my fellow commission members to plan an effective and meaningful commemoration. I am especially pleased that the commission will include members from all of the states where the Brown litigation began, and I am sure the commission will highlight the contributions of pioneers from all of these states in the commemoration."

Brown Henderson was the driving force behind the formation of the commission. She worked closely with the congressional delegation from the state of Kansas, particularly Sens. Sam Brownback and Pat Roberts and Rep. Jim Ryun.

The first meeting of the commission will be held Nov. 13 at historic Howard University. The institution was at the epicenter of the civil rights movement and was the venue for much of the planning of the Brown litigation.

"It is a privilege to work with such a distinguished group of Americans," Secretary Paige said. "I look forward to hearing the recommendations that this illustrious group will give."

The members of the commission are:

• Gerald Reynolds, assistant secretary for civil rights, U.S. Department of Education, co-chair of the commission

• Ralph Boyd, assistant attorney general for civil rights, U.S. Department of Justice, co-chair of the commission

• Brian Jones, general counsel, U.S. Department of Education, selected by the U.S. Secretary of Education

• Robert Driscoll, deputy assistant attorney general, Civil Rights Division, U.S. Department of Justice, selected by the Attorney General

• Cheryl Brown Henderson, president, the Brown Foundation, selected by the Brown Foundation

• Deborah Dandridge, University of Kansas, selected by the Brown Foundation

• Steven Adams, superintendent, Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site, selected by the National Park Service

• Theodore Shaw, associate director, NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, selected by the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund

• Roger Wilkins, professor, George Mason University, selected by the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund

• Michael Young, dean, George Washington University National Law Center, selected by the chief justice of the United States

• Judge J. Jerome Farris, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, selected by the chief justice of the United States

• Dr. Jesse Milan, president, NAACP of Kansas, selected by President Bush, representing the state of Kansas

• Daniel D. Holt, director, Dwight D. Eisenhower Library, selected by President Bush, representing the state of Kansas

• Littleton P. Mitchell, NAACP of Delaware, selected by President Bush, representing the state of Delaware

• Judge Charles H. Toliver IV, judge of the Superior Court of Delaware, selected by President Bush, representing the state of Delaware

• Dr. Benjamin W. Robertson, Sr., pastor, Cedar Street Baptist Church (Richmond, Va.), selected by President Bush, representing the state of Virginia

• Lacy B. Ward, Jr., Tuskegee University, selected by President Bush, representing the state of Virginia

• Josephine A. Robertson, public school teacher, Worcester, Mass., selected by President Bush, representing the state of Massachusetts

• Carolyn N. Sawyer, president, Tom Sawyer Company, Inc., selected by President Bush, representing the state of South Carolina

• Joseph A. DeLaine, retired pharmaceutical executive, selected by President Bush, representing the state of South Carolina

• H. Patrick Swygert, president, Howard University, selected by President Bush, representing Washington, D.C.

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