Dozen bronze statues commemorate South's 1st school desegregation
CLINTON, Tenn. -- Fifty-one years ago, 12 black students became the first to attend a court-ordered, desegregated school in the South.
On Thursday, 12 life-size statues were unveiled in Clinton to commemorate those students who became known as the "Clinton 12." The bronze statues stand outside the Green McAdoo Cultural Center.
On their first day at Clinton High School on August 27th, 1956, the students walked down the hill from their neighborhood and passed a crowd of taunting, angry white people. The governor at the time sent troops to help uphold the law.
Governor Bredesen and other dignitaries attended Thursday's unveiling ceremony, along with the surviving members of the Clinton 12, and their families and friends.
Read entire article at WBIR-TV (Knoxville, Tenn.)
On Thursday, 12 life-size statues were unveiled in Clinton to commemorate those students who became known as the "Clinton 12." The bronze statues stand outside the Green McAdoo Cultural Center.
On their first day at Clinton High School on August 27th, 1956, the students walked down the hill from their neighborhood and passed a crowd of taunting, angry white people. The governor at the time sent troops to help uphold the law.
Governor Bredesen and other dignitaries attended Thursday's unveiling ceremony, along with the surviving members of the Clinton 12, and their families and friends.