George Wallace, the Democratic Governor of Alabama, in a symbolic attempt to keep his inaugural promise of "segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever" and stop the desegregation of schools, stood at the door of the auditorium to try to block the entry of two African American students, Vivian Malone and James Hood.
George Wallace, o Gobernador de Alabama, nun intento simbólico de respectar a súa promesa ao asumir o seu cargo de "segregación agora, segregación mañá e segregación por sempre" e deter os procesos de desegregación nas escolas, parouse na porta do auditorio para tentar bloquear a entrada de dous estudantes negros, Vivian Malone Jones e James Hood.