Bill > SB489

This bill establishes a monument on the Arkansas State Capitol grounds to recognize the historic desegregation of the Charleston and Fayetteville School Districts in 1954, which were the first school districts in the former Confederate States to integrate following the landmark Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision. The bill creates the Charleston and Fayetteville Desegregation Memorial Monument Fund, which will accept gifts, grants, and donations to finance the monument's construction and maintenance. The legislation highlights the districts' pioneering efforts, noting that Charleston integrated on August 23, 1954, with eleven African-American students attending classes peacefully, and Fayetteville followed shortly after on September 10, 1954. The bill acknowledges the challenges these districts faced, such as sports teams and competitions refusing to include them due to racial integration, and seeks to commemorate their significant role in the civil rights movement by placing a monument on the State Capitol grounds. The Secretary of State will be responsible for approving the monument's design and location in consultation with the Capitol Arts and Grounds Commission, and the fund will be managed like other monument funds in the state, ensuring dedicated financial support for this historical recognition.

Government Affairs

https://arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/Detail?id=sb489&ddBienniumSession=2025%2F2025R