Civil Rights Pioneer Bates to Have Her Day
Daisy Bates, the civil rights pioneer behind the nine black students who broke the color barrier in Little Rock schools in 1957, will be honored with a state holiday.
Gov. Mike Huckabee signed legislation to honor Bates on the third Monday in February. Beginning next year, residents will honor her while at the same time observing Presidents Day.
Bates, who died two years ago at age 84, became a national symbol of black hope and a target of segregationist hate during the 1950s.
The nine students walked into Central High amid rioting whites and with an Army escort. Meeting before and after school at Bates’ small home during the crisis, she advised the children about how to face the taunting and urged them to be proud of what they were accomplishing.
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