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The 12th Annual Virginia Political History Project

"With All Deliberate Speed?" Massive Resistance in Virginia


Friday, July 17, 2009
Virginia Capitol Building, Richmond, Virginia

On July 17, 2009, the Center for Politics hosted a special installment of the annual Virginia Political History Project marking the 50th anniversary of the 1959 "end" of Massive Resistance. Former students, elected officials and civil right leaders shared their personal perspectives from this historic period. The conference featured the only statewide gathering of former students to tell their stories.

The conference aired on C-SPAN and a separate documentary about student experiences will be airing on Virginia PBS stations in November.

Conference Agenda

9:20 a.m. - Introduction by Dr. Larry Sabato

9:30 - 10:45 a.m. - Panel I: The Student Experience

Moderated by Ms. Margaret Edds

  • Dr. Delores Brown
  • Mr. Henry Cabarrus Jr.
  • Ms. Suetta Freeman
  • Ms. Jean Tignor Hachey
  • Mr. Andrew Heidelberg
  • Ms. Alicia Lugo

11 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. - Panel II: Politics and Media during Massive Resistance

Moderated by Dr. Larry Sabato

  • Ms. Brenda Andrews
  • Mr. Luther Carter
  • Chief Justice Leroy Hassell
  • Dr. James Hershman
  • Governor A. Linwood Holton Jr.
  • Senator Henry Marsh
  • Mr. Jeff Schapiro

1:05 - 1:45 p.m. - Keynote Speech: Governor L. Douglas Wilder

2 - 3:15 p.m. - Panel III: The Student Experience

Moderated by Dr. Cassandra Newby-Alexander

  • Rev. Everett Berryman
  • Mr. Michael Jones
  • Rev. James Kilby
  • Mr. Donald Martin
  • Ms. Rita Moseley
  • Dr. Patricia Turner

3:30 - 4:45 p.m. - Panel IV: What are the Lasting Effects of Massive Resistance?

Moderated by Ms. Daphne Maxwell Reid

  • Mr. Ray Boone
  • Dr. Paul Gaston
  • Senator Yvonne Miller
  • Delegate W. Ferguson Reid
  • Dr. Mildred Robinson
  • Mr. Eugene Williams
  • Mr. Michael Paul Williams

Virginia Political History Project Transcript Full conference transcripts now available online.

Governor Wilder's VPHP Keynote Address Download a formatted copy of Governor Wilder's Keynote Address.

For more information about the conference or the documentary, please contact Bruce Vlk at (434) 243-3540 or bvlk@virginia.edu.