Black students helped end 'Massive Resistance'

At school, the 17 were met by angry mobs and insults. Many said they were isolated from their white classmates during their high school years. The speakers mentioned Louis Cousins, who was widely depicted in a news photograph sitting alone in the Maury High School auditorium while white classmates were seated many rows away.

Cousins attended Sunday's celebration but did not speak.

"These people were alone," said John Charles Thomas, the first black justice on the Virginia Supreme Court and a product of the Norfolk public schools. "Every one of them was alone."

Thomas recalled the tumultuous era in which the young members of the Norfolk 17 integrated the city schools. The judge who ordered the schools reopened had a cross burned on his lawn, he said, and the civil rights movement was met with violence in many places.

"This was a dangerous time," Thomas said to nods and amens of the congregation. "Think of the courage that it took for all of them to do what they did."

Turning to the first two rows of the church, Thomas said, "Norfolk 17, God knows we're grateful."

Virginia established Brown v. Board of Education Scholarships for people whose education was disrupted or ended during Massive Resistance. The city of Norfolk plans to conduct events marking the 50th anniversary of the end of Massive Resistance next year.