WASHINGTON — By 1963, much of the United States was on its way to desegregation. It had been nine years since the Supreme Court issued its Brown v. Board decision finding segregation in schools unconstitutional, and five years since the Little Rock Nine integrated Little Rock Central High School in Alabama.
But in June 1963, then-Alabama Gov. George Wallace (D) was determined to carry out his inaugural pledge of “segregation now, segregation tomorrow and segregation forever.” On June 11, Wallace stood at the entrance of the University of Alabama in an effort to prevent two black students from enrolling, despite a federal order allowing them to do so.
Wallace cited states’ rights as his reason for refusing to follow the federal order. He ultimately stepped aside when President John F. Kennedy’s administration called the Alabama National Guard to intervene.
For many Americans, the “Stand in the Schoolhouse Door” remains an iconic image of Alabama and its stand against civil rights.
–
Other counties seemed to be holding out. In Tuscaloosa County, for example, gay couples looking for a marriage license were instead handed a summary of Moore’s order. Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley (R) said Monday said he would not take disciplinary action against any probate judges in the state.
Smith, the University of Alabama professor, said that Moore is probably considering electoral politics, similar to Wallace.
“We all know how this story ends,” he added. “The story ends with same-sex marriages being done in Alabama. At this point, any state official that refuses to go along with this is just sowing confusion and postponing what is going to happen and probably acting primarily out of concern for their next election.”
