100841 • RESOLUTION NO. 10,084 •
2 466D
3 A RESOLUTION TO COMMEND THE ACTIONS OF MAYOR
4 WOODROW WILSON MANN FOR ASSURING THAT CITY
5 RESOURCES WOULD BE USED TO PROTECT THE SAFETY OF
6 STUDENTS INTEGRATING LITTLE ROCK CENTRAL HIGH
7 SCHOOL DURING THE 1957 CRISIS; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
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9 WHEREAS, during the 1957 crisis at Central High School there was a period of
10 time in which it was not clear whether state, federal, or local resources would be responsible
11 for assisting in the peaceful integration of the school; and
12 WHEREAS, Mayor Woodrow Wilson Mann believed that it was the duty and
13 responsibility of the City to do everything within its power to assure that the rule of law
14 prevailed and, to that end, directed that the Little Rock Police Department maintain a full
15 force of officers to be able to address the everyday needs of the City and the special needs
16 created by public reaction to the school's integration, and the public reaction to the use of
17 National Guard troops and federal troops at the school; and
18 WHEREAS, at one point Mayor Mann was criticized for this action and even
19 presided over a city council that passed a resolution to commend Governor Faubus for his
20 actions in using the National Guard to prevent the integration of the schools; and
21 WHEREAS, despite the unpopular political ramifications of his actions, Mayor Mann
22 understood that the rule of law should prevail and that the elected government should be the
23 voice of reason as the "eyes of the world," watched the events at Central High School
24 unfold; and
25 WHEREAS, during this fortieth anniversary racial reconciliation celebration it would
26 be unfair not to recognize the political courage and moral decency shown by Mayor Mann
27 during this time in the City's history.
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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OF THE CITY OF LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS:
Section 1. The Mayor and Members of the Board of Directors of the City of Little
Rock, Arkansas, commend Mayor Woodrow Wilson Mann for the courage and moral
decency he showed in directing city departments to follow the rule of law and to obey the
orders of the federal court during the integration of Central High School in 1957.
Section 2. In further observance of this commendation, the Mayor and Members
of the Board of Directors direct that Mayor Woodrow Wilson Mann's photograph be taken
from the Board Meeting room and hung in honor in the rotunda of City Hall for the period
of celebration of the fortieth anniversary of the integration of Central High School.
ADOPTED: September 23, 1997
ATTEST:
,c Q.-ee a
Robbie Hancock, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO LEGAL FORM:
Thomas M. Carpenter, Attorney
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APPROVED:
ti 4. Nkul -
Ti ailey, Mayor
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