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| Clinton at key Arkansas ceremony | |
| (1 day later) | |
| Former US President Bill Clinton has attended a ceremony in Arkansas to mark 50 years since an integration crisis at Little Rock Central High School. | Former US President Bill Clinton has attended a ceremony in Arkansas to mark 50 years since an integration crisis at Little Rock Central High School. |
| The crisis lasted for three weeks in 1957, as an angry mob tried to stop a group of nine black students attending the all-white school. | The crisis lasted for three weeks in 1957, as an angry mob tried to stop a group of nine black students attending the all-white school. |
| The confrontation was ended only when former President Dwight D Eisenhower sent in troops to control the crowds. | |
| The event became a seminal moment in the civil rights movement in the US. | The event became a seminal moment in the civil rights movement in the US. |
| The anniversary comes a week after thousands marched through the town of Jena, Louisiana to protest about allegations of unequal racial justice in a case which has seen several black high-school children jailed. | The anniversary comes a week after thousands marched through the town of Jena, Louisiana to protest about allegations of unequal racial justice in a case which has seen several black high-school children jailed. |
| 'Overcome adversity' | 'Overcome adversity' |
| In Little Rock, about 4,500 people gathered in front of the Central High School on Tuesday to honour the bravery of the group of black teenagers - now in their sixties - who have become known as the "Little Rock Nine". | In Little Rock, about 4,500 people gathered in front of the Central High School on Tuesday to honour the bravery of the group of black teenagers - now in their sixties - who have become known as the "Little Rock Nine". |
| Mr Clinton, a former governor of Arkansas, held open the school's doors in a symbolic gesture. | Mr Clinton, a former governor of Arkansas, held open the school's doors in a symbolic gesture. |
| You can overcome adversity if you know you are doing the right thing Carlotta Walls LanierMember of the Little Rock Nine Legacy of the Little Rock Nine | You can overcome adversity if you know you are doing the right thing Carlotta Walls LanierMember of the Little Rock Nine Legacy of the Little Rock Nine |
| "I am grateful we had a Supreme Court that saw 'separate but equal' and 'states' rights' for the shams they were, hiding our desire to preserve the oppression of African-Americans," he said. | "I am grateful we had a Supreme Court that saw 'separate but equal' and 'states' rights' for the shams they were, hiding our desire to preserve the oppression of African-Americans," he said. |
| "I am grateful more than I can say that we had a president who was determined to enforce the order of the court." | "I am grateful more than I can say that we had a president who was determined to enforce the order of the court." |
| One of the nine, Carlotta Walls Lanier, urged the school's current generation of students to have the courage to act on their convictions. | One of the nine, Carlotta Walls Lanier, urged the school's current generation of students to have the courage to act on their convictions. |
| "You can overcome adversity if you know you are doing the right thing," she said. | "You can overcome adversity if you know you are doing the right thing," she said. |
| Another, Ernest Green, said the group had believed the school was "the place that would accept us, that we'd belong". | Another, Ernest Green, said the group had believed the school was "the place that would accept us, that we'd belong". |
| "We saw it as a building that offered opportunity and options for us. And you know what? Fifty years later, I think we were right," he told the crowd. | "We saw it as a building that offered opportunity and options for us. And you know what? Fifty years later, I think we were right," he told the crowd. |
| Showdown | Showdown |
| The Little Rock crisis started on 4 September 1957 when a 15-year-old black schoolgirl named Elizabeth Eckford arrived at the gates of the all-white Central High School. | The Little Rock crisis started on 4 September 1957 when a 15-year-old black schoolgirl named Elizabeth Eckford arrived at the gates of the all-white Central High School. |
| On reaching the school gates, she was blocked by a member of the Arkansas National Guard. | On reaching the school gates, she was blocked by a member of the Arkansas National Guard. |
| They had been stationed there by Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus as part of a campaign of "massive resistance" to a 1954 Supreme Court ruling that segregated classrooms were unconstitutional. | They had been stationed there by Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus as part of a campaign of "massive resistance" to a 1954 Supreme Court ruling that segregated classrooms were unconstitutional. |
| Ms Eckford was later joined by eight other pupils. | Ms Eckford was later joined by eight other pupils. |
| The confrontation at the school quickly escalated into a showdown between the state and the federal government. | The confrontation at the school quickly escalated into a showdown between the state and the federal government. |
| President Eisenhower eventually sent in troops from the 101st Airborne division to escort the group to class on 25 September 1957, dealing a crushing blow to opponents of the black civil rights movement. | President Eisenhower eventually sent in troops from the 101st Airborne division to escort the group to class on 25 September 1957, dealing a crushing blow to opponents of the black civil rights movement. |