OMAHA, May 17 (UPI) -- Nebraska's plan to divide Omaha schools into three districts by 2008 "intentionally furthers racial segregation," the NAACP charges in a federal lawsuit.
The only African America in Nebraska's unicameral legislature, state Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha, pushed the legislation questioned in the civil rights group's suit.
Chambers argued Omaha schools already are segregated and the plan would allow blacks to control one of the three districts.
While NAACP lawyer Theodore Shaw said he respected Chambers' efforts to increase minorities' control, "we disagree with actions that will exacerbate segregation in the public schools," he said.
"I mean this is 2006, in a society that is diverse and multicultural," Shaw told The New York Times.
"The doctrine of separate but equal has no place" in public education and violates the U.S. Constitution, the suit says.
Gov. Dave Heineman called the suit "a distraction" to talks trying to reconcile differences among school superintendents.
