U.Va. Conference on Massive Resistance Airing on C-SPAN This Weekend

Aug. 5, 2009 — This Saturday and Sunday afternoons, C-SPAN 3 will broadcast coverage of a recent University of Virginia Center for Politics conference on Massive Resistance, Virginia's campaign to circumvent the public school desegregation ordered in the Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision in 1954.

The conference, 'With All Deliberate Speed? Massive Resistance in Virginia,' was held July 17 at the Virginia State Capitol, marking the 50th anniversary of the end of Massive Resistance in Virginia in 1959.

The Center for Politics' 12th annual Virginia Political History Project, the conference consisted of four panel discussions and a keynote speech by former Virginia Gov. L. Douglas Wilder. (Click here for the full conference schedule.)

The first two panel discussions of the conference are scheduled to air on C-SPAN 3 from approximately 12:40 to 2 p.m. on Saturday, and 12:45 to 2:20 p.m. on Sunday.

The third and fourth panel discussions are tentatively scheduled for broadcast the following weekend, on Aug. 15 and 16. C-SPAN will not finalize its broadcast schedule until closer to the dates. Check this C-SPAN Web page for updated schedule information.

The video coverage will also be made available on C-SPAN's Web site.

The conference was the first of its kind in that it featured the only statewide gathering of former students sharing personal stories from the Massive Resistance era. Other featured speakers included former Virginia Gov. Linwood Holton Jr., Virginia Supreme Court Chief Justice Leroy Hassell, state senators Henry Marsh and Yvonne Miller, former delegate W. Ferguson Reid and many more.

Along with Center for Politics director Larry Sabato, the conference also featured U.Va. professor emeritus of history Paul Gaston and Mildred Robinson, the Henry L. and Grace Doherty Charitable Foundation Professor of Law. Participating U.Va. alumni included Hassell, Dr. James Hershman and Dr. Cassandra Newby-Alexander.

Since 1998, the U.Va. Center for Politics has hosted the annual Virginia Political History Project. This event is an ongoing effort to preserve the rich history of government and politics in the commonwealth, and to reflect upon the issues that affect its people.

Founded in 1998 by political analyst and professor Larry Sabato, the U.Va. Center for Politics is a non-partisan institute that seeks to promote the value of politics, improve civics education and increase civic participation through comprehensive research, pragmatic analysis and innovative educational programs.

— By Brevy Cannon

Media Contact