National Guard Brig. Gen. Henry Graham, left, informs Gov. George Wallace that the guard is under federal control as the two meet on June 11, 1963, at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Ala.HEADLINE: Wallace ‘stand’ was 50 years ago
THE RECAP: It was 50 years ago this week that then-Gov. George Wallace staged his “Stand in the Schoolhouse Door” to prevent blacks from attending the University of Alabama.
On Tuesday, a racially integrated crowd gathered in Tuscaloosa to remember that landmark event of June 11, 1963. The university staged a commemoration Tuesday evening at Foster Auditorium, where Wallace faced down federal officials to oppose integration.
DREW’S VIEW: It seems unthinkable that Gov. George Wallace’s despicable stand against integrating the University of Alabama was viewed as reasonable and even heroic at the time. Denying people fair and equal treatment and preventing them from entering into a public institution simply because of traits they were born with seems ignorant, bigoted and barbaric.
Thank goodness we’ve become more mature, intelligent and open-minded as a society.