Her family had lived in the township for generations, and she wanted her children to be able to live there, too. Then, in the decades after World War II, the federal government financed the construction of highways and tracts of single-family homes. White families fleeing cities like Camden, N.J., and Philadelphia tripled Mount Laurel’s population between 1950 and 1970. When the township sought to condemn an area of dilapidated homes, where some of the town’s Black residents lived, Ms. Lawrence jumped into action. She and her husband owned their home, but Ms. Lawrence was concerned that other Black or Latino residents would be forced out.

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Persons: Ethel Lawrence, Lawrence Organizations: Mount Locations: Mount Laurel , N.J, Philadelphia, Camden, N.J, Mount Laurel’s