Manhattan (Kan.) district to break ground on elementary named for civil rights activist

The Manhattan-Ogden (Kan.) school district is scheduled to break ground this week on an elementary school named for a civil rights activist.

The Manhattan Mercury reports that Oliver Brown Elementary School will will house up to 475 students in a J-shaped building that also will have a storm shelter tailored for students with disabilities.

Oliver Brown is the namesake and plaintiff in the landmark 1954 Supreme Court case Brown v. Topeka Board of Education. Brown argued in the court case that his daughter Linda was receiving a substandard education because she was forced to attend a segregated school.

"The selection of Oliver Brown Elementary promotes the district’s desire for diversity and recognizes a broken past of discrimination and segregation while highlighting the hope and protection of children of color who benefited from Mr. Brown’s bold action," the district says on its website. 

"At a time in our nation where racial tensions continue to be high and discrimination is not dead, the actions of Oliver Brown stand as a symbol of victory over slave-era policies and a reminder of the value of each and every student."

The school is scheduled to open in August 2021.