several restrictions on the new black students, banning them from extracurricular activities and athletics. The school board cited that this was because they were transfer students; however, the truth was quite evident that this was not truly the reason. Regardless, these nine, courageous students prepared to attend their first day at Central High on September 3, 1957.On September 2, 1957, the night before the nine black students were supposed to enter Central High, National Guardsmen surrounded the school. In a televised speech, Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus rationalized that many white supremacists from all over the state were descending on Little Rock. The governor had called the national guardsmen because he feared that the situation would turn into a bloodbath. The state governor proceeded to announce that Central High would be off-limits to black students for the time being. He also proclaimed that if black students attempted to enter Central High, “blood would run in the street.”The black students did not attend the first day of school. Early on September 4, the following day, Daisy Bates of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) organized a meeting with the nine black students. They planned an attempt to enter school that day by walking in together. However, only eight of the nine students were present at the meeting because Elizabeth Eckford did not have a phone and was unable to be notified. The astoundingly brave Eckford attempted to enter school that day through the front entrance. As the National Guard looked on, an angry mob approached her and threatened to beat her. Elizabeth mistakenly believed that the National Guard would help and found herself in an ominous position. Fortunately, two whites stepped forward to aid her, and proceeded to lead her to the bus stop which she was able to reach without injury. The other eight students were also denied admission by th...
