In 1953, the U.S. Supreme Court made a significant decision regarding segregation in Washington, D.C. Specifically, they ruled that the segregating policies practiced by Thompson’s Cafeteria were illegal.

This landmark case, known as District of Columbia v. John R. Thompson Co. Inc., began on April 30, 1953, and centered around the validity of local Washington Acts from 1872 and 1873.

These Acts prohibited segregation in public places within the District. The court’s support allowed the enforcement of these Acts once again, marking a victory for the national black community. 

The case emerged during a period of racial tension in the nation’s capital, and it was a pivotal moment in the fight against segregation