A African American newsman is attacked by mob
Photo by Ira Wilmer - courtesy of Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Orval Faubus
Orval Faubus, the governor of Arkansas, was a powerful racial supremacist. He was openly against the integrated schools movement and even sent in the National Guard to prevent the teens from entering the school, a clear abuse of power.
Arkansas Gov. Orval Faubus speaks in front of a crowd gathered at the Arkansas State Capitol to protest the integration of Central High School in Little Rock.
© John T. Bledsoe/Library of Congress
“We didn’t know that his [Faubus’] idea of keeping the peace was keeping the blacks out.”
- Jefferson Thomas
“I thought he [Faubus] was there to protect me. How wrong I was.”
- Thelma Mothershed Wair
Community Backlash
Mobs chanted “Two, four, six, eight, we ain’t gonna integrate!”
It wasn't just Governor Faubus who was against school integration. Even people with the responsibility of keeping these students safe, like teachers, were openly discriminatory against them. Angry mobs formed in an effort to prevent the students from coming to school. Even the peers and supporters of the nine watched on as this all happened, as they were in fear of discovery.
Policemen trying very hard to hold away a white mob
(Will Counts/Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)
"The Supreme Court shut its eyes to all the facts, and in essence said – integration at any price, even if it means the destruction of our school system, our educational processes, and the risk of disorder and violence that could result in the loss of life – perhaps yours.”
- Orval Faubus
Despite all of the resistance attempts from community members and even the governor, the members of the nine continued in their uphill battle against the mob. Ultimately, the fight for integrated education was a cause deemed much more important by the nine than their own social welfare.
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