[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 142 (Monday, September 24, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H10724-H10727]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      RECOGNIZING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SEPTEMBER 25, 1957, 
  DESEGREGATION OF LITTLE ROCK CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL BY THE LITTLE ROCK 
                                  NINE

  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 668) recognizing the 50th anniversary of the 
September 25, 1957, desegregation of Little Rock Central High School by 
the Little Rock Nine.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 668

       Whereas on May 17, 1954, the United States Supreme Court 
     announced in Brown v. Board of Education (347 U.S. 483) that, 
     ``in the field of education, the doctrine of `separate but 
     equal' has no place'';
       Whereas the Brown decision recognized as a matter of law 
     that the segregation of public schools deprived students of 
     the equal protection of the laws under the Fourteenth 
     Amendment to the Constitution of the United States;
       Whereas in 1957, three years after the landmark Brown v. 
     Board of Education decision, the promise of access and 
     equality within the realm of education remained unfilled in 
     Little Rock, Arkansas, and throughout the Nation;
       Whereas on September 4, 1957, nine African American 
     students who would later be deemed the Little Rock Nine, 
     Minnijean Brown, Elizabeth Eckford, Ernest Green, Thelma 
     Mothershed, Melba Pattillo, Gloria Ray, Terrence Roberts, 
     Jefferson Thomas, and Carlotta Walls, were denied admittance 
     to Little Rock Central High by the Arkansas National Guard at 
     the order of the Arkansas Governor;
       Whereas on September 23, 1957, the Little Rock Nine, armed 
     with a Federal court order, again tried to attend Little Rock 
     Central High and implement the law of the land, but protests 
     and violence forced the group of students to leave the 
     school;
       Whereas on September 25, 1957, this Nation would realize a 
     historic day when the Little Rock Nine, escorted by Federal 
     troops at the order of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, 
     successfully integrated Little Rock Central High;
       Whereas throughout their tenure at Little Rock Central 
     High, the Little Rock Nine, with conviction and dignity, 
     championed school integration despite death threats, verbal 
     and physical assaults, school closings, and other 
     adversities;
       Whereas the Little Rock Nine are symbolic of the victorious 
     dismantling of school segregation, as well as the full and 
     equal participation in American society that all citizens are 
     entitled to, and continue to advance such principles through 
     the Little Rock Nine Foundation;

[[Page H10725]]

       Whereas the significance of the Little Rock Nine and their 
     actions have been acknowledged with numerous awards and 
     recognitions, including the 2007 Little Rock Central High 
     School Desegregation 50th Anniversary Commemorative Coin, the 
     Congressional Gold Medal in 1999, the inclusion of Little 
     Rock Central High School in the National Park System in 1998, 
     and the designation of Little Rock Central High School as a 
     National Historic Landmark in 1982;
       Whereas on the 50th anniversary of the desegregation of 
     Little Rock Central High School by the Little Rock Nine, the 
     Nation will celebrate this great civil rights achievement 
     through forums and town halls, commemorations, and 
     significantly, the dedication of a permanent Little Rock 
     Central High School Museum and Visitor Center; and
       Whereas in 2007, as the Little Rock Nine and the entire 
     Nation celebrates 50 years of integration, we must 
     acknowledge recent setbacks to the guarantee of opportunity 
     and inclusion within our educational system, in both K-12 and 
     higher education: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) acknowledges and commemorates the 50th anniversary of 
     the desegregation of Little Rock Central High School by the 
     Little Rock Nine;
       (2) encourages all Americans, upon this 50th anniversary, 
     to recognize the historic contributions of the Little Rock 
     Nine, who not only secured integration for Little Rock 
     Central High School, but hundreds of thousands of schools 
     across the country; and
       (3) commits itself, in the wake of recent challenges, to 
     continuing the legacy of Brown v. Board of Education and the 
     Little Rock Nine by protecting and advancing equal 
     educational opportunity for all.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Michigan (Mr. Conyers) and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Goodlatte) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Michigan.


                             General Leave

  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Michigan?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker and my colleagues, I am pleased to join the entire 
Arkansas congressional delegation, Representatives Vic Snyder, Marion 
Berry, Mike Ross, John Boozman, all in celebrating the 50th anniversary 
of the integration of the Little Rock Central High School by the Little 
Rock Nine. I would like also to recognize the distinguished members of 
the House Judiciary Committee, Ranking Member Lamar Smith and former 
chairman, Jim Sensenbrenner, who have joined me in the introduction of 
this resolution.
  Fifty years ago, on September 25, 1957, the Little Rock Nine, as they 
were called, successfully challenged the status quo of ``separate but 
equal.'' Three years earlier, we all recall the momentous Supreme Court 
decision of 1954 that ruled the 14th amendment's guarantee of equal 
protection prohibited segregation in the public schools. This landmark 
Brown v. Board of Education decision struck down the notorious State-
sanctioned Jim Crow in the realm of education once and for all.
  Unfortunately, this critical determination would not easily be 
accepted. It would take nine young strong and determined African 
American students to begin actually implementing the new laws of the 
land. These nine students, Minnijean Brown, Elizabeth Eckford, Ernest 
Green, Thelma Mothershed, Melba Pattillo, Gloria Ray, Terrence Roberts, 
Jefferson Thomas, and Carlotta Walls, implemented the promise of Brown 
v. The Board. In the footsteps of Rosa Parks, these students, too, 
started a movement to dismantle years of segregation and inequalities 
in our public school systems.
  On the shoulders of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., these brave young 
nine boys and girls faced a hatred and a violence that is embarrassing 
to recall, and they faced it with nonviolent resistance. They were 
peaceful. Dr. King himself said ``to meet physical force with soul 
force.'' And that is what they did. Dr. King asked the students to 
think of the big picture as they moved forward, for they were going to 
be the frame for that picture.
  So on September 25, 1957, the students who came to be known as the 
Little Rock Nine integrated Little Rock Central High School, and 
history was forever changed. Escorted by 1,000 members of the 101st 
Airborne Division of the United States Army, the Little Rock Nine 
claimed the fair and equal education that they were entitled to.
  It took close to a month to secure this access and opportunity, but 
these young men and women persevered in their mission of school 
integration. Defying Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus, segregationists 
and other protestors, the Little Rock Nine were victorious in ending 
segregated education.
  The Little Rock Nine's first attempt to attend Central High School 
was on September 4, 1957; but the Arkansas Governor called in the 
National Guard of his State to keep them out. On September 23, the 
Little Rock Nine, armed with a Federal court order, again tried to 
attend Central High School, but protests and violence forced the group 
of students out of the school. It was not until Federal protection was 
provided that the students would be able to safely attend school on 
September 25. This Federal protection would remain until the end of the 
school year, enabling African American senior Ernest Green to graduate. 
But, sadly, this year of progress would be tainted by the Arkansas 
Governor's decision to close all of the high schools the following 
year.
  The Little Rock Nine would remain champions of education and school 
integration despite the fierce opposition. After the schools reopened 
in 1959, three more of the Little Rock Nine would go on to graduate 
from Central High. All of them would become productive, contributive 
members of our society. From social work to education to government, 
the Little Rock Nine were and remain represented in all professional 
sectors. They have also continued their commitment to education with 
the founding of the Little Rock Nine Foundation, which is dedicated to 
providing educational opportunities to students of color.
  On the 50th anniversary of the integration of Central High by the 
Little Rock Nine, I am pleased to recognize that great progress has 
been made in education. But I must also acknowledge recent setbacks to 
the guarantee of opportunity and inclusion within our educational 
system. A recent Supreme Court decision now severely limits school 
districts in their efforts to achieve racial balance and diversity in 
primary and secondary education.
  But in acknowledging recent setbacks, I would be remiss to not 
comment on the Jena Six. Just as the Little Rock Nine stood up to the 
inequities of their time, we must lift up the Jena Six in response to 
the inequities of their time.
  The Little Rock Nine did not mean to make national or world history; 
they were just standing up for what they believed was right.
  In considering this resolution, I ask that all of our Members move 
forward with this same kind of determination and understanding of what 
our democracy is all about. On this 50th anniversary, let us all pledge 
to continue the legacy of the Little Rock Nine and Brown v. The Board 
by protecting and advancing equal educational opportunity for all.
  I omit the great work that was done by President Dwight Eisenhower 
and others that helped move this situation forward some 50 years ago. 
And I note also that Arkansas was not a hot bed of segregation. It was 
considered, frankly, a moderate Southern State. But things transpired 
so that it became that one activity in which these nine boys and girls 
have gone into American history. They have been celebrated, and they 
have been talked about. I have been hearing about them all week long as 
we prepare for this celebration. And I am so proud to bring this 
resolution on the 50th anniversary of the desegregation of Little Rock 
Central High School before this body.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Resolution 668, 
commemorating the Little Rock Nine, the African American students who 
enrolled in Little Rock Central High School in 1957 and were initially 
prevented from entering that segregated school. I want to commend 
Chairman Conyers for

[[Page H10726]]

bringing this legislation forward and our ranking member, Congressman 
Smith, for his support of it as well.
  President Dwight Eisenhower, following the landmark Supreme Court 
decision in Brown v. Board of Education, sent Federal troops to enforce 
integration and protect the Little Rock Nine. On September 24, 1957, 
the President ordered the Army to Little Rock, and the nine students 
entered the school the next day. Thereafter, each of the students was 
given an individual escort inside Central High School to prevent them 
from harassment by other students.
  It was surely a sad day when the Federal Government had to use the 
most powerful military in the world to integrate one high school in 
Little Rock, Arkansas. But it was also a proud day as well, as it 
demonstrated how our Constitution and each branch of government had, 
since the Civil War, finally had been honed and fitted to fulfill the 
promise of racial equality in America.
  Chairman Conyers has already listed the Little Rock Nine, but the 
efforts of which they themselves and their families must be most proud 
are deserving of mentioning them again: Ernest Green, Elizabeth 
Eckford, Jefferson Thomas, Terrence Roberts, Carlotta Walls LaNier, 
Minnijean Brown, Gloria Ray Karlmark, Thelma Mothershed, and Melba 
Pattillo Beals. With each step they took through the schoolhouse doors, 
they paved a path forward for countless other African Americans. And 
when the school bell rang that day, it marked not only the start of the 
school day; it rang for liberty and equality as well.
  The Little Rock Nine were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal on 
November 9, 1999. This resolution renews our commemoration of their 
courageous actions of the 50th anniversary of their historic first 
steps into history. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased now to recognize the 
distinguished gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Ross), who has been serving 
in the Congress for a period of years and we have enjoyed a very good 
working relationship with him. I yield him such time as he may consume.
  Mr. ROSS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 
668, a resolution honoring and recognizing the 50th anniversary of the 
desegregation of Little Rock Central High School by the Little Rock 
Nine. First, I would like to thank Chairman Conyers for his support and 
leadership in moving this resolution from the Judiciary Committee to 
the floor of the United States House of Representatives.
  I am proud to be a cosponsor of this resolution, which honors the 
anniversary of the nine students who gained national attention 50 years 
ago when Little Rock Central High School was integrated.
  Little Rock Central High School found itself in the spotlight of the 
entire Nation on September 25, 1957, when nine students escorted by the 
101st Airborne Division of the U.S. Army walked up the front steps and 
integrated the school.
  The names of these nine individuals are barely recognizable alone, 
but collectively as the Little Rock Nine they gained national attention 
for their strength and unified determination to make our public schools 
a place where everyone can learn regardless of race.

                              {time}  1615

  This resolution honors their courage by commemorating the 50th 
anniversary of desegregation of Little Rock Central High School and 
encourages all Americans to recognize the historic contributions of the 
Little Rock Nine, who not only secured integration for Little Rock 
Central High School, but for hundreds of thousands of schools across 
our country.
  Tomorrow marks the 50th anniversary of this historic event, and I'm 
also proud to be taking part in the celebration of this civil rights 
achievement through the dedication of a permanent Little Rock Central 
High School Museum and Visitors Center. I'll be joined tomorrow by many 
of my colleagues, including the Arkansas congressional delegation, 
Congressmen John Boozman, Marion Berry and Vic Snyder.
  The Little Rock Nine have been acknowledged with numerous awards and 
recognitions, including the 2007 Little Rock Central High School 
desegregation 50th anniversary commemorative coin, one of only two such 
coins that are done annually. And I want to thank my good friend from 
Arkansas, Congressman Vic Snyder for leading the effort in securing 
this as one of the two coins for this year. They've also been 
recognized for the Congressional Gold Medal. That was back in 1999. 
This resolution adds one more recognition to this important group of 
individuals.
  As we memorialize their legacies of bravery so that future 
generations of Americans will forever know their struggle, we can never 
forget the sacrifices endured by these nine individuals for the sake of 
progress on behalf of millions. The Little Rock Nine are symbolic of 
the victorious dismantling of school segregation, and as such, I am 
proud to cosponsor this resolution honoring their contributions, and I 
urge my fellow colleagues to vote in favor of it today.
  Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased now to recognize the gentleman 
from Illinois, Mr. Danny Davis, who, himself, grew up in Arkansas. He 
was a distinguished alderman in Chicago before becoming a Member of 
Congress. He has worked with the Judiciary Committee with particular 
interest on re-entry programs, and he also happens to represent my 
counsel, Kanya Bennett, who comes to the floor with me today. I yield 
the gentleman as much time as he may consume.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Conyers 
for, not only his leadership on this issue, but so many issues 
involving civil rights down through the years and for bringing this 
legislation to the floor.
  On May 17, 1954, the Supreme Court announced its decision in Brown 
vs. Board of Education, holding that the segregation in public schools 
was illegal. Three years later, nine black students entered Little Rock 
Central High: Carlotta Walls, Jefferson Thomas, Elizabeth Eckford, 
Thelma Mothershed, Melba Pattillo, Terrance Roberts, Gloria Ray, 
Minniejean Brown and Ernest Green. I feel a certain amount of kinship 
to these nine students because, at that very same time, I was a 
freshman in college, just 50 miles away at the University of Arkansas 
at Pine Bluff. And so over the years, I had an opportunity to interact 
with several of them.
  Of course, the most well known is Ernest Green, who became an 
assistant secretary in the U.S. Department of Labor and is now the 
managing director of Lehman Brothers investment firm.
  Minniejean Brown, I spent a weekend with, down at Southern Illinois 
University, where she graduated just a few years ago when we were both 
there for some activity.
  I did student teaching with Melba Pattillo's mother, Mrs. Pattillo, 
who was a teacher in North Little Rock, Arkansas when I did student 
teaching.
  And so it's been a great move. It's hard to imagine that 50 years ago 
I was there, but I guess I was, John. It's been a long time, but much 
has happened since then.
  I simply want to congratulate Governor Beebe, the Mayor of Little 
Rock, all of the elected officials in Little Rock, for the tremendous 
display of commemoration and celebration that has taken place over 
these 3 days as they commemorate the tremendous movement. And I agree 
with Chairman Conyers in suggesting that not only has Little Rock, but 
the country has come a long way since 1957. We've made tremendous 
progress, even though there is much further to go.
  Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. If the 
gentleman is prepared to close, I will yield back the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself just a minute to close to 
observe that Arkansas, I have always connected with the former Governor 
of that State, the former President of this country, Bill Clinton. And 
I understand he's going to be there tomorrow to cut the ribbon, and I 
only wish that all of us who will be supporting and voting for this 
resolution could be there with him.
  I think Arkansas has come a long way. They've made a lot of progress, 
and we're all working to make this a

[[Page H10727]]

color-free society, where the content of one's character is far more 
important and significant than the color of one's skin.
  I urge support for Resolution 668 and yield back the balance of my 
time.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, as we commemorate the 50th anniversary 
of school desegregation in Arkansas and celebrate nine brave young 
people and the families that supported them, it is a day of bittersweet 
reflection because the dreams they sought to fulfill for generations of 
African Americans remain still not fully realized.
  Today, as in 1957, we believe that education will help African 
Americans to get better jobs and to gain influence in American society. 
But, 50 years later, the struggle is not over. While in 1957, African 
American students struggled to get into high schools, today they 
struggle to stay in school. In describing the current state of 
education for African Americans, an author stated ``burdened with a 
history that includes the denial of education, separate and unequal 
education, and religion to unsafe, substandard inner-city schools, the 
quest for quality education remains an elusive dream for the African 
American community.'' The current drop out rate among African American 
males is estimated at 40 percent, 72 percent are jobless, and the 
likelihood of being incarcerated is 60 percent. Fifty years later, the 
playing field is not leveled.
  H. Res. 668, not only recognizes the 50th anniversary of that 
momentous occasion on September 25, 1957, but it also calls for all to 
commit to continuing the legacy of Brown v. Board of Education and the 
Little Rock Nine by protecting and advancing equal educational 
opportunity for all. This would be a great way to honor and continue to 
pay tribute to heroic actions of the Little Rock Nine. Little Rock Nine 
opened the door for education but we must continue to close the gap in 
providing quality education for all.
  I urge all of my colleagues to join us in honoring the people who 
made history on that day, and to also join them and us in working 
toward the day when there will truly be equal opportunity in education 
in every part of our Nation.
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, on September 25th, our State--and our 
Nation--will recognize nine brave men and women who, when they were 
teenagers, came forward to claim their Constitutional right to an equal 
education despite protests, threats of violence and even the Arkansas 
National Guard.
  I strongly Support this legislation which honors not only a red-
letter date in our State's history, but a seminal event in the movement 
to unite our country as truly one people, indivisible.
  Fifty years ago, Minnijean Brown, Elizabeth Eckford, Ernest Green, 
Thelma Mothershed, Melba Pattillo, Gloria Ray, Terrence Roberts, 
Jefferson Thomas, and Carlotta Walls, climbed the steps of Central High 
School. Few other moments in our history can compare to the ascent made 
by the Little Rock Nine. It was an ascent to a new plateau in the 
relations of Americans to their fellow citizens and a new plateau on 
the path to the American we now know.
  On September 25, 1957, when the Nine made it to the top of those 
Central High School steps, they stood in a place where, up till that 
point, others said they could not go. Then, they did what was, in fact, 
the most important thing that day: They went inside to learn.
  While Central High School will always be the event at the forefront 
of our memories when it comes to the history of desegregation, it is my 
hope that, as we remember the Nine, we can also remember the other 
schools in our State which preceded them, including Fayetteville, 
Hoxie, and the community of Charleston--who first broke down the 
barrier in Arkansas on August 23, 1954.
  I would also like to remember the names of Joe Ferguson, Jessie 
Ferguson, Mary Ferguson, Barbara Williams, Robert Williams, Etholia 
Williams, Time Freeman, Betty Freeman, Myrdle Freeman, Leroy Jones, 
Raymond Webb, Duty Webb, and Henry Web, who joined their fellow 
residents of Charleston to bring about peaceful change.
  As we spend this day reflecting on our past, we should remember all 
the brave children, families, and educators across the state who--by 
their courage--set in motion a chain of events which created the 
Arkansas of the present and will resonate in the Arkansas of the 
future.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Conyers) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 668.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

                          ____________________