In this WSB newsfilm clip from June 7, 1963, Eugene "Bull" Connor addresses a Citizens' Council rally in Holt, Alabama; and in Tuscaloosa, Alabama officials prepare the University of Alabama campus for the scheduled June 11 integration.

The clip begins by showing the building housing the university's administrative headquarters (now known as Carmichael Hall), and then showing Clark Hall, the arts and sciences building, and tree-lined streets. Across the street from the Foster Auditorium a parking lot sign reads, "Student parking only 7:30 am - 3:00 pm." The road passing by sorority houses near the football stadium is closed and blocked to traffic. A police car and a truck with an "Alabama" sign drive down other streets and white students walk around the campus. Next, Eugene "Bull" Connor, former commissioner of safety in Birmingham, speaks to a Citizen's Council rally in Holt, a town near the university's home in Tuscaloosa. Connor stresses the importance of keeping people of different races apart and asks his audience not to go to the University of Alabama campus for its scheduled integration. He repeats the request of Alabama governor George Wallace that citizens stay away from the campus and let the government officials handle the integration. Connor believes that United States President John F. Kennedy and attorney general Robert Kennedy would like to see trouble in the university's integration and declares, "if we don't have any trouble we can beat them at their own game!"

In 1956 after a three-year court battle, Autherine Lucy became the first African American to enroll at the University of Alabama. However, after three days of rioting, the university suspended her for her own protection; she was later expelled after her lawyers accused university officials of conspiring with the rioters. While campaigning for governor in 1962 George Wallace pledged to "stand in the schoolhouse door" if necessary to keep schools segregated. In 1963 federal courts ruled the university must admit African American students Vivian Malone and James Hood. State and university officials, aware of the negative impact of violence at the University of Mississippi's integration in October 1962 worked to prevent violence at the university's integration. While Wallace confirmed his intention to block the students' access to the university, he also asked Alabama citizens to stay away from the campus and to remain peaceful. On June 11 Wallace, maintaining that the conflict was one of state rights, blocked the admission of federal officials escorting the two students to registration; after receiving a presidential order presented by Alabama National Guard members, Wallace stepped aside and left the campus. Malone and Hood successfully registered for classes that afternoon. Two days later, another African American student, Dave M. McGlathery was admitted to the University of Alabama in Birmingham graduate school. Neither campus experienced violence or rioting with the integration.

Title supplied by cataloger.

The Civil Rights Digital Library received support from a National Leadership Grant for Libraries awarded to the University of Georgia by the Institute of Museum and Library Services for digital conversion and description of the WSB-TV Newsfilm Collection.

1 clip (about 2 min.): black-and-white, sound ; 16 mm.

Original found in the WSB-TV newsfilm collection.

WSB-TV newsfilm clip of Eugene "Bull" Connor addressing a White Citizens' Council rally and preparation for the University of Alabama integration in Holt, Alabama, and Tuscaloosa, Alabama, 1963 June 7, WSB-TV newsfilm collection, reel 0807, 7:03/09:10, Walter J. Brown Media Archives and Peabody Awards Collection, The University of Georgia Libraries, Athens, Ga, as presented in the Digital Library of Georgia.

Forms part of: Civil Rights Digital Library.