Private schools that discriminate on the basis of race or establish racial segregation are in violation of federal law. Decided June 25, 1976 (argued April 26, 1976). Opinion of the Court: Potter Stewart → go there Dissenting: White. Topic: Discrimination based on race and ethnicity. Runyon v. McCrary, 427 U.S. 160 (1976), is a landmark case by the United States Supreme Court, which ruled that private schools that discriminate on the basis of race or establish racial segregation are in violation of federal law. Whereas Brown v. Board of Education barred segregation by public schools, this case barred segregation in private schools. This decision is built on Jones v. Alfred H. Mayer Co. another landmark civil rights case that affirmed the federal government's ability to penalize racist acts by private actors. Wiki link