Little Rock 9 student dedicates commemorative bench

wireready_09-05-2018-09-12-02_04095_aplogo3

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) – Elizabeth Eckford, one of the nine black students who
first integrated Little Rock’s Central High School in 1957, has helped dedicate
a commemorative bench two blocks from the school where she attempted to escape
from furious and violent white protesters.

In a ceremony Tuesday, exactly 61 years later, Eckford discussed how alone she
felt on the first day of school when the Arkansas National Guard and protesters
blocked her entrance.

The 76-year-old Eckford walked a portion of the two blocks and sat on the
reconstructed bench. She says she’s happy to return to continue to work toward
“true reconciliation.”

Current students from Central High led the bench construction effort. They
also created a companion audio walking tour app which guides listeners through
the students’ journey to school that day.

WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI