As we covered in the previous episode, number 143, of Breaking Walls, In Little Rock, Arkansas on September 4th, 1957, nine African-American students attempted to attend their first day of high school at the newly integrated Little Rock Central High.

The National Guard, on the orders of Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus, prevented the students from entering the school.

The Governor then locked himself in his mansion, refusing to come out. President Dwight D. Eisenhower soon met with the Governor, and the National Guard was removed.

On September 23rd, the nine students entered Little Rock Central High for the first time, ignoring verbal abuse and threats from a crowd outside.

When the mob realized the students had entered the school, violence erupted, and seven journalists were attacked. As the situation deteriorated, school officials, fearing for the students’ safety, dismissed the Little Rock Nine at lunchtime.

The next day, President Eisenhower ordered paratroopers from the 101st Airborne Division to escort the students to the building, signaling out those bent on disrupting the federal integration mandate.

Over the following days, Eisenhower federalized ten-thousand Arkansas National Guardsmen, removing them from the control of the Governor.

The Little Rock Nine were finally able to attend classes in late September, but they faced threats, verbal abuse, and hazing from both white students and adults alike.

On Thursday October 17th, 1957 NBC Radio broadcast a special with students from Little Rock Central High about their feelings on integration.

Although the conditions the Little Rock Nine had to endure were deplorable, when the Spring of 1958 came around eight of the nine had successfully completed the school year.