Roller Rink Boycotts

In October 1952, the DePorres Club began testing the admission policies of the Crosstown Roller-Rink when Ralph Fox, the co-owner of the business,  told club members that he would not allow Black customers into the rink due to the fear of losing business from white customers. A few weeks later, Denny Holland visited the rink with three other club members, who were all Black. While Denny was allowed in, the others were denied entry.

One of the rejected club members, English Webb, filed a lawsuit against Crosstown. Judge Patrick W. Lynch ruled in Webb's favor, fining Ralph Fox $25. Fox appealed, and after six additional hearings in municipal and district courts, the conviction was upheld, forcing Crosstown to revise its discriminatory admission policy. 

In retaliation, other roller rinks threatened legal action against Denny Holland. Jack Gelfand, owner of the local Roller Bowl, threatened to sue Holland, accusing him of acting as an "instigator" in two discrimination cases brought against the establishment. Although initially frightened, Holland was reassured by Father Markoe, who told him: "Such a [law]suit could never be won in the courts. So, instead of not yielding an inch, just calmly forge ahead. The best defense against an attack is a counter-attack."

For more information, see Holland (2014), Chapters 20, 23.