Attempting to block integration at the University of Alabama, Governor of Alabama George Wallace stands at the door of the Foster Auditorium while being confronted by United States Deputy Attorney General Nicholas Katzenbach.
On May 17, 1954, the Supreme Court of the United States handed down its decision regarding the case called Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas, in which the plaintiffs charged that the education of black children in separate public schools from their white counterparts was unconstitutional. Brown v. Board of Education meant that the University of Alabama had to be desegregated. In the years following, hundreds of African-Americans applied for admission, but all were denied. The University worked with police to find any disqualifying qualities, or when this failed, intimidated the applicants.[citation needed] But in 1963, three African-Americans —Vivian Malone Jones, Dave McGlathery and James Hood—applied. In early June a federal district judge ordered that they be admitted,[3] and forbade Governor Wallace from interfering.[4]
Vivian Malone Jones arrives to register for classes at the University of Alabama's Foster Auditorium.
On June 11, Malone and Hood arrived to register. Wallace, attempting to uphold his promise as well as for political show,[4] blocked the entrance to Foster Auditorium with the media watching. Then, flanked by federal marshals, Deputy Attorney GeneralNicholas Katzenbach told Wallace to step aside.[1][5] However, Wallace cut Katzenbach off and refused, giving a speech on States' rights.[4] Katzenbach called PresidentJohn F. Kennedy, who federalized the Alabama National Guard. Guard General Henry Graham then commanded Wallace to step aside, saying, "Sir, it is my sad duty to ask you to step aside under the orders of the President of the United States." Wallace then spoke further, but eventually moved, and Malone and Hood registered as students.[6]
