Bloody photos show the day 300 troops were sent to guard 9 black school children 60 years ago

AP

Sixty years ago, on September 25, 1957, The United States Army deployed 300 troops to guard nine black children who attempted to enter the racially segregated Little Rock Central High School.

The road to desegregation of America's school system was often paved in blood, as communities grappled with laws that mandated African-Americans be allowed to attend formerly "white-only" schools.

The students and troops were met by an unruly crowd who tried to physically block them from entering the school.

These photos depict the dramatic confrontation between the crowd and the students.

The "Little Rock Nine" were a group of nine black students who attempted to enter the racially segregated Little Rock Central High School in 1957.

US Army

President Dwight. D. Eisenhower deployed 300 federal troops to safely escort the students into the high school.

AP

Members of the Little Rock, Arkansas community protested and tried to physically block the students from entering the school.

AP


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