In this WSB newsfilm clip from September 26, 1957, Arkansas governor Orval Faubus displays photographs as evidence that Arkansas is a territory occupied by the United States Government and declares his intention to continue to fight "for the rights of my people to solve their problems peacefully." The clip begins with Governor Faubus sitting in an office of study before an Arkansas state seal is shown. Governor Faubus is next seen sitting in front of a curtain with a United States flag in the background. Speaking to the camera, he asserts that Arkansas is now "an occupied territory." He shows several photographs of interactions between United States soldiers and the residents of Arkansas, including "unsheathed bayonets in the backs of school girls [and] in the backs of students." Faubus also shows a picture of C. E. Blake, a white railroad worker who tried to push a rifle aside and was hit in the head with the rifle butt and started bleeding. Governor Faubus affirms the supremacy of the United States Army "against a defenseless state." He encourages the "peaceful pursuit of life, being good citizens as the overwhelming majority of our citizens have always been." He affirms his commitment to work for the rights of the people of Arkansas, pledging to "continue unrelentlessly on this course."

The Little Rock school district voted to integrate its schools in 1957. Governor Faubus, opposed to integration, sent members of the Arkansas National Guard to prevent African American students--the "Little Rock Nine"--from entering Little Rock Central High School on September 4. Federal courts ordered Governor Faubus to remove the troops and permit the nine students to enter the school on September 23, 1957. However, because of the rioting that continued outside, the students were removed from the school after three hours. President Dwight D. Eisenhower ordered troops from the 101st Airborne Division to Little Rock to restore order and to protect the students. After a single year of integration, Governor Faubus closed the Little Rock public high schools to avoid further integration. The United States Supreme Court declared Faubus' action illegal and the public schools reopened August 1959.

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 governor Orval Faubus claiming that Arkansas is a territory occupied by the United States in Little Rock, Arkansas, 1957 September 26, WSB-TV newsfilm collection, reel 0841, 12:45/14:31, 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.