III 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 350 

Recognizing November 14, 2009, as the 49th anniversary of the first day 

of integrated schools in New Orleans, Louisiana. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

NOVEMBER 10, 2009 

Mr. FEINGOLD (for himself and Ms. LANDRIEU) submitted the following 

resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing November 14, 2009, as the 49th anniversary 

of the first day of integrated schools in New Orleans, 

Louisiana. 

Whereas, in 1954, the Supreme Court ruled that segregated 

schools violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th 

amendment to the Constitution; 

Whereas Judge J. Skelly Wright, of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, ordered 

the Orleans Parish School Board to develop a school desegregation plan in 1956 and, after years of delay, in 

1960, ordered the Orleans Parish School Board to carry 

out a plan designed by the United States District Court 

for the Eastern District of Louisiana; 

Whereas 6 years after the Brown v. Board of Education (347 

U.S. 483) decision, on November 14, 1960, Ruby 


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•SRES 350 ATS 

Bridges, at the age of 6, became the first African-American student to attend the all-white William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans, Louisiana; 

Whereas, in 1995, Ruby Bridges contributed to ‘‘The Story 

of Ruby Bridges’’, a book for children, and, in 1999, 

wrote ‘‘Through My Eyes’’ to help educate children and 

people of all ages about her experiences and the importance of tolerance; 

Whereas Ruby Bridges established the Ruby Bridges Foundation in 1999 to help eliminate racism and improve society by educating students about the experiences of Ruby 

Bridges, discuss ongoing efforts to promote diversity, and 

provide lessons students can take back to their own communities; and 

Whereas, in 2002, the Ruby Bridges Foundation, along with 

the Simon Wiesenthal Center’s Museum for Tolerance in 

Los Angeles, launched The Ruby’s Bridges Project, a 

program that brought together students from diverse 

backgrounds to develop relationship-building skills and 

promote an appreciation of one another: Now, therefore, 

be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) recognizes November 14, 2009, as the 49th 

3 anniversary of the first day of integrated schools in 

4 New Orleans, Louisiana; 

5 (2) remembers Judge J. Skelly Wright for his 

6 advocacy, support, and lifelong commitment to pro7 moting civil rights, fairness, and equality; 


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•SRES 350 ATS 

1 (3) commends Ruby Bridges for her bravery 

2 and courage 49 years ago, and for her lifetime com3 mitment to raising awareness of diversity through 

4 improved educational opportunities for all children; 

5 (4) supports policies and efforts to— 

6 (A) close the achievement gap in the 

7 schools of our Nation; 

8 (B) improve the high school graduation 

9 rate for all students; 

10 (C) strengthen the ability of all students to 

11 attend and complete post-secondary education; 

12 and 

13 (D) promote the benefits of school integra14 tion throughout the educational careers of stu15 dents; and 

16 (5) congratulates all the individuals who have 

17 dedicated their lives to the field of education and to 

18 promoting equal opportunities for all students re19 gardless of the backgrounds of the students. 

Æ 


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