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On this day, January 19, 1959, the key law behind Virginia's Massive Resistance laws was struck down.
This day in history: “Massive Resistance” dealt death blow by US, Virginia Supreme Courts
By WHSV Newsroom
Published: Jan. 19, 2026 at 4:07 PM EST | Updated: 2 hours ago
(WHSV) - On January 19, 1959, the key law behind the Virginia state legislature’s policy of “Massive Resistance” against integration in public schools was struck down by both the United States and Virginia Supreme Courts.
Massive Resistance was a group of laws designed to block the desegregation of public schools following the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Brown v. Board, primarily by redirecting government funds intended for desegregated public schools to segregated private schools.
In one day, the U.S. and Virginia Supreme Courts struck down key Massive Resistance laws, leading the Governor of Virginia to concede defeat less than a month later.
Copyright 2026 WHSV. All rights reserved.
By WHSV Newsroom
Published: Jan. 19, 2026 at 4:07 PM EST | Updated: 2 hours ago
(WHSV) - On January 19, 1959, the key law behind the Virginia state legislature’s policy of “Massive Resistance” against integration in public schools was struck down by both the United States and Virginia Supreme Courts.
Massive Resistance was a group of laws designed to block the desegregation of public schools following the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Brown v. Board, primarily by redirecting government funds intended for desegregated public schools to segregated private schools.
In one day, the U.S. and Virginia Supreme Courts struck down key Massive Resistance laws, leading the Governor of Virginia to concede defeat less than a month later.
Copyright 2026 WHSV. All rights reserved.
Massive resistance
Massive resistance was a political strategy created by American politicians Harry F. Byrd and James M. Thomson aimed at getting Virginia officials to pass laws and policies preventing public school desegregation, particularly after Brown v. Board of Education. Many schools and an entire school system were shut down in 1958 and 1959 in attempts to block integration.
Harry F. Byrd, a Democratic political figure who created the massive resistance strategy
This lasted until the Virginia Supreme Court and a special three-judge panel of federal district judges from the Eastern District of Virginia, sitting at Norfolk, declared those policies unconstitutional. Although most of the laws created to implement massive resistance were overturned by state and federal courts within a year, some aspects of the campaign against integrated public schools continued in Virginia for many more years.
{snip}
Massive resistance was a political strategy created by American politicians Harry F. Byrd and James M. Thomson aimed at getting Virginia officials to pass laws and policies preventing public school desegregation, particularly after Brown v. Board of Education. Many schools and an entire school system were shut down in 1958 and 1959 in attempts to block integration.
Harry F. Byrd, a Democratic political figure who created the massive resistance strategy
This lasted until the Virginia Supreme Court and a special three-judge panel of federal district judges from the Eastern District of Virginia, sitting at Norfolk, declared those policies unconstitutional. Although most of the laws created to implement massive resistance were overturned by state and federal courts within a year, some aspects of the campaign against integrated public schools continued in Virginia for many more years.
{snip}