The short walk of the Clinton 12 to go to high school was escorted by National Guardsmen, seen in the far left, and met daily by angry mobs of adults and students. (circa 1956)

Clinton 12 Commemorative Walk, Aug. 26

ByTheLight
The Army National Guard occupied the city of Clinton, TN for months to maintain order.

The Clinton 12 Commemorative Walk, Monday, August 26, 2019 at 10 a.m. The remaining 8 living members of the Clinton 12 and other dignitaries will walk from Green McAdoo Cultural Center (the former Green McAdoo School) to Clinton Middle School (the former Clinton High School), to honor the actions of the 12 high school students and supportive community members who braved threats of violence to integrate Clinton High School, making it the first public high school in the South to desegregate. 

Clinton Middle and Elementary School students will line West Board and North Hicks Street and will join the procession to Clinton Middle School gymnasium where a program is planned.

Honored guest will include the remaining eight members of the Clinton 12, representatives of the 4 deceased members. U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander, U. S. Representative Chuck Fleischmann, and Tennessee Lt. Governor Randy McNally are scheduled to attend.

Some Clinton, TN resident’s discontent over the order to integrate the high school continued long after school hours. 

What you need to Know:

  • Public Parking is at the Clinton Community Center and the public can stand along West Broad Street and North Hicks Street. The streets will be closed at 9:30 a.m.
  • When the procession passes you, you can join in and proceed to the middle school gymnasium or you can enter the middle school before 10 a.m.
  • Public seating will be reserved on the basketball court.

This is a rain or shine event.

Sponsored by: Anderson County Mayor’s Office, Anderson County Commissioners, Anderson County Schools, City of Clinton, City of Oak Ridge, City of Oak Ridge Schools, School Organization, Inc., Oak Ridge/Anderson County NAACP, and Green McAdoo Cultural Center.

 

 

Photo caption: The statue of the Clinton 12 erected in front of the Green McAdoo Cultural Center (formerly Green McAdoo School for blacks), in Clinton, TN. that depicts their historic walk to desegregate the high school which was just down the street. Up to September 1956, Clinton’s black high school students were bussed to the black high school in Knoxville – Austin High that is now Vine Middle School. 

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