Title
Honoring the Courage and Legacy of Ruby Bridges by Recognizing November 14th as Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day in the City of Philadelphia
Body
WHEREAS, on November 14, 1960, six-year-old Ruby Bridges was one of six Black children to pass the test that determined whether or not they could go to the all-white William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans, LA; and
WHEREAS, of the six children who passed the test, two of the children decided to stay at their old school, and Ruby Bridges went to William Frantz Elementary School by herself, as the only African American student to attend the school; and
WHEREAS, everyday U.S. Marshals had to escort young Ruby and her mother to school where a crowd of people who didn't want her at the school accosted her; and
WHEREAS, as soon as Ruby Bridges entered the school, white parents pulled their own children out, and all the teachers except one refused to teach while a black child was enrolled in the school; and
WHEREAS, Barbara Henry, originally from Boston, MA was the only teacher that would teach Ruby Bridges and for the entire year Ms. Henry taught Ruby Bridges alone in the classroom; and
WHEREAS, there were threats to poison Ruby's food, so the U.S. Marshals assigned to protect her only allowed her to eat food brought from home; and
WHEREAS, the threats to Ruby extended to her family as well. Her father lost his job and the grocery store where the family shopped would no longer let them shop there, and her grandparents who were sharecroppers in Mississippi, were turned off their land; and
WHEREAS, despite the threats and protests, the Bridges family was determined to keep sending Ruby to school; she didn't miss a single day of class that year; and
WHEREAS, over time other African American students enrolled into William Frantz Elementary School, and many years later Ruby Bridges' four nieces attended the school made famous by their brave Aunt Ruby; and
WHEREAS, in 1964 artist Norman Rockwell cele...
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