IV 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 901 

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

of integrated schools in New Orleans, Louisiana. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

NOVEMBER 6, 2009 

Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin (for herself, Mr. KIND, Ms. BALDWIN, Mr. CAO, and 

Mr. MELANCON) submitted the following resolution; which was referred 

to the Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by 

the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

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 


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•HRES 901 IH 

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 

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 Ruby Bridges had the courage to attend the William 

Frantz Elementary School every day during the 1960–61 

school year despite ongoing riots and protests in New Orleans, having to be escorted to school by Federal marshals, and having no other students in her classroom; 

Whereas Ruby Bridges was also supported by her white firstgrade school teacher, Ms. Barbara Henry, whose lessons 

remain with Ruby Bridges to this day; 

Whereas Ms. Henry faced retaliation for teaching Ruby 

Bridges by not being invited to come back and teach at 

William Frantz School following the 1960–61 school 

year; 

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 


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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 House of Representatives— 

2 (1) recognizes the 49th anniversary of the first 

3 day of integrated schools in New Orleans, Louisiana; 

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

5 advocacy, support, and lifelong commitment to pro6 moting civil rights, fairness, and equality; 

7 (3) commends Ruby Bridges for her bravery 

8 and courage 49 years ago, and for her lifetime com9 mitment to raising awareness of diversity through 

10 improved educational opportunities for all children; 

11 (4) supports policies and efforts to— 

12 (A) close the achievement gap in the 

13 schools of our Nation; 

14 (B) improve the high school graduation 

15 rate for all students; 

16 (C) strengthen the ability of all students to 

17 attend and complete post-secondary education; 

18 and 


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1 (D) promote the benefits of school integra2 tion throughout the educational careers of stu3 dents; and 

4 (5) congratulates all the individuals who have 

5 dedicated their lives to the field of education and to 

6 promoting equal opportunities for all students re7 gardless of the backgrounds of the students. 

Æ 


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