Description

Statement to FBI denying having requested the use of the Arkansas National Guard to assist in school integration. "Little Rock, Ark. Oct. 4, 1957 "I VIRGIL T. BLOSSOM, make the following statement of my own free will to Special Agents DONALD F. MC DERMOTT and LEANDER J. MUNCY of the F.B.I. I have been advised this concerns an official investigation by the F.B.I. and I am willing to testify to these facts in a court of law. "I am the Superintendent of the Little Rock School System. "I have never received any information regarding the following report which agent MUNCY related to me: Prior to registration at Central High School a negro boy was knifed and seriously wounded behind the High School Stadium. He was later hospitalized. Following this incident a group of about 50 Central High School Students and a like number from North Little Rock High met and agreed to assist each other in keeping Negroes out the respective schools. Students from North Little Rock High were to be at Central High on 9/3/57 and Central High students were to be at North Little Rock High on 9/9/57, the opening dates of school. "The above information is entirely foreign to me. "I have never asked Gov. FAUBUS to use the National Guard to assist in the integration program. "I asked him repeatedly to make a statement to the public that he would preserve law and order if he was needed. "/a/ VIRGIL T. BLOSSOM Superintendent of Schools

From Collection

Land of (Unequal) Opportunity

Record Contributed By

University of Arkansas