Welcome to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas

This Day in Arkansas History

September 11, 1970

A group of armed whites attacked a group of unarmed African Americans who were marching to the city hall in Earle (Crittenden County) to protest continued segregation in the local school system. No one was killed, but five African Americans were wounded, including two women who had been shot. This action followed a student walkout three days earlier and the arrest of twenty-seven students connected with the protest. The following month, Judge Thomas Eisele ordered the complete desegregation of schools in Earle.

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About the Encyclopedia

The CALS Encyclopedia of Arkansas is a free, authoritative source of information about the rich history, geography, and culture of Arkansas. It is updated regularly to ensure the people of Arkansas have an accurate and accessible resource to explore our heritage. We invite you to browse our text entries and media galleries to learn more about the people, places, events, legends, and lore of the 25th state. We are continually adding new entries, photographs, maps, videos, quizzes, lesson plans, and more, so check back frequently to see what’s new.

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New to Arkansas?

Our overview page covers everything you would want to know about our beautiful state, including state symbols, demographics, and more!

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