1958 Arkansas General Assembly

Starting in 1957, three successive Arkansas General Assemblies passed a series of pro-segregation laws. In 1958, Act 4 empowered the governor to shut down any integrated school district. Act 10 ordered all teachers to disclose any organizational memberships. Act 11 prevented any organizations from filing lawsuits in the area of public education. A number of other measures were aimed at specifically preventing the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People from practicing law in the state. Act 17 imposed large fines and long prison sentences for disturbing the peace in a public place to deter student sit-ins. The state fought to uphold these laws at great expense to taxpayers although the courts eventually ruled them all unconstitutional.