Rally at State Capitol in Little Rock, Arkansas, August 20, 1959

Photograph shows a group of people, one holding a Confederate flag, surrounding speakers and National Guard, protesting the admission of the "Little Rock Nine" to Central High School.

Courtesy of Library of Congress, Bledsoe, John T., Little Rock, Arkansas, 20 August 1959

Description

As the "Little Rock Nine," a group of nine African-American students, enrolled in Little Rock Central High School in 1957, their enrollment was followed by angry gatherings of individuals who wanted to prevent the students from entering the racially-segregated school. This photograph from August 20, 1959, shows a group of people, one holding a Confederate flag, surrounding speakers and the National Guard, and are protesting the admission of the African-American students and the integration of their public schools in Arkansas.

Source-Dependent Questions

One of the flags in the background of the photograph is from the Confederate States of America. Why is it significant? What does it likely represent to the protesters?
Infer why the police officer and National Guard member are there. Why is it important that the U.S. Constitution guarantees the freedom of speech for all?

Citation Information

Bledsoe, John T., Little Rock, Arkansas, 20 August 1959. Courtesy of Library of Congress