Castle, Pelosi, Lewis, Snyder Commemorate 50th Anniversary of Little Rock Nine
Washington
| December 7, 2007 -
Delaware Congressman
Mike Castle joined Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Congressmen John Lewis and Vic
Snyder to recognize the desegregation of the Little Rock Central High
School. The Little Rock Nine was a group
of African-American students who were enrolled in Little Rock Central High
School in 1957. These students were
initially prevented from entering the racially segregated school by the
Arkansas Governor; however, after intervention from President Dwight
Eisenhower, the students were able to attend Little Rock Central High School. After 50 years, this event is one of the most
noted in the history of the civil rights movement. To commemorate the 50th anniversary of this
event, the U.S. Mint has issued a silver dollar.
"This was a significant event in history not only
for Arkansas or the African-American community but the entire nation. The lessons we learned as a country during
that time were extremely valuable, and they still need to be embraced today. I am pleased to see the U.S. Mint marking
this historic event to not only honor those nine students for their bravery and
determination but also to ensure that its history lives on for generations to
come," said Rep. Castle.
The
coin features Little Rock Central High School as it looked in 1957 and the
footsteps of the nine African-American students who desegregated the school
under the protection of the 101st Airborne.
The coins are available through the U.S. Mint until December 14th.
Under current law, the
U.S. Mint can only produce two commemorative coins each year. The other coin minted this year was to
commemorate the 400th Anniversary of the founding of Jamestown, Virginia.
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