Drive for gold medals begins in Congress for Little Rock Nine

Jet, Oct 27, 1997

U.S. Senator Dale Bumpers (DAR) recently asked the Senate to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the nine former students who courageously integrated Little Rock Central High School 40 years ago.

"Sometimes we worry that there are no heroes in our country today, no one for our children to look up to, no one to inspire us to be our best selves," said the senator in taking the first step to honor the city's brave Black students.

He continued, "But two weeks ago we saw a vivid reminder that there are still heroes among us. The Little Rock Nine returned to Little Rock Central High School to stride again through the doors. This time those doors were held open by the Governor of Arkansas and the President of the United States."

The nine students were Minnijean Brown Trickey, Carlotta Walls LaNier, Melba Patillo Beals, Terrence Roberts, Gloria Ray Karlmark, Thelma Mothershed Wair, Ernest Green, Elizabeth Eckford, and Jefferson Thomas.

"Their grace and courage prevailed that day and has inspired us for 40 years," Sen. Bumpers declared in his civil rights pitch. "They deserve our thanks and admiration. They deserve a medal. We should present those nine heroes of Little Rock with the Congressional Gold Medal as a permanent remembrance of their unforgettable moment of courage. I hope all of my colleagues will co-sponsor this bill and see that it quickly becomes law."

A similar bill earlier was introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. Bennie Thompson (DMS), a member of the Congressional Black Caucus.