A conference was held marking the 50th anniversary of the 1959 end of Massive Resistance, Virginia’s campaign to circumvent the public school desegregation ordered in the Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision in 1954. In 1958, Virginia Governor James Almond closed schools throughout Virginia, most predominately in Norfolk, to prevent them from being integrated. 

The panelists were students that were shut out of their schools during the Massive Resistance. Following their comments, they answered questions from members of the audience. Ms. Edds moderated. Larry Sabato made opening remarks for the day.

“The Student Experience” at 9:30 a.m. was the first panel of the 12th Annual Virginia Political History Project “With All Deliberate Speed? Massive Resistance in Virginia.” The conference was held on Friday, July 17, 2009, in the Virginia Capitol Building, in Richmond, Virginia.