Original subtitles

What's the problem, Henry? You sounded panicked. We received a federal court

order this morning, certified to the city council.

A court order for what?

Some Green Bay parents, together with the NAACP, filed an action for

desegregation last spring. They included a busing plan for Green Bay kids to go

to Windsor schools.

So, what's that got to do with us? Well, the judge ruled yesterday. He liked the

plan, except for Windsor, he thought their schools couldn't handle it, so...

He decided on Rome.

What? What? Our school district crosses into Brown County. We're eligible.

The judge wants it done immediately because we're beginning a school term.

What do you think?

Starting on Monday, 400 black students are being bused here from Green Bay.

Well, can we handle this economically? It isn't just economics.

The kids to be bused come from a gang area.

There's a budding gang problem in Green Bay, and these kids are the kids in

question. I think it's not as much about desegregation as this getting rid of

the troublemakers.

They want to ship out the bad element.

And ship it to Rome.

Of course we don't have guns in the lobby. I don't know. Calm down! We

need a mayor. Hold on, hold on. We've got an election in a month.

The city council can handle it.

We can't wait that long. We need a mayor. Ellen McGrath is the ranking

member, but she's been inactive.

Henry, you do it.

Well, I've got an Episcopalian conference this weekend.

I'm the keynote speaker. I leave for Las Vegas in two hours.

Michael, not a chance.

Forget it.

Well, nobody wants it. Maybe we should just give it to Wambaugh. What? Jill!

Well, somebody's got to do it. Well, how about you, Jill?

Me? No, no. I'm not even a member of the city council. I'm only here as a member

of the school committee. How about co -mayors?

What? Yeah, two people.

They work together, and it's only temporary for one month.

Well, who?

Which two?

Well... Jill and Jason? Me?

No, why? Look, you just split the duties. Oh, I'm a doctor. I can't.

trusted by the town. Both of you. You've done a great job on the city council,

Jason. I am not a mayor. I don't want the job. It's bad luck.

Nobody wants the job. But this is a crisis.

We need you. This is busing.

Think about the children.

It's only for a month.

I'll do it.

If you will.

All right. Well, just until this busing thing is over, though, then I'm out.

Look at this.

Oh, my God.

Look, even the fold -out.

Oh, no.

I feel sick.

This one.

Did you pose for the smut rag?

No. Well, I mean, I posed, but they were supposed to be private pictures for

myself, not for a magazine. How did they get in there?

The photographer must have sold them.

Oh, my father's going to see this.

Max, everyone's going to see it.

And it gets even worse or better depending on your point of view.

Should I call an ambulance?

No.

What's wrong?

I filed an appeal with the state Supreme Court and Brian Latham. The

unconstitutional confession, you know.

And did they rule already?

No, they refused to rule. Instead, they certified it for immediate appeal to the

U .S. Supreme Court.

And?

The Supreme Court granted us certiorari.

Just like that, they grant cert.

What does that mean?

Hey, did you hear? Did I hear?

Hear what? I haven't heard. This case is going to the Supreme Court. You and I

are going to argue before the Supreme Court.

I should be upset. I'm supposed to wish there'd be no appeal, but... I never

thought I'd see the day.

You and I are going to the Supreme Court of the United States, baby!

I have no jurisdiction over a federal court order. Yes, yes, of course, we

understand that, Your Honor.

But if you will give us a state court injunction, that should at least enable

to get some immediate appellate review.

We have nothing against desegregation.

So long as they don't try it in Rome. No, no, that isn't it, Your Honor. It

isn't that we don't want a black student population in our schools.

You're just concerned for those black youngsters.

You want to be ready to give them the best education possible.

All we're saying is let's not rush it. People are going to react to this.

It's on account of the suddenness. On account of the suddenness. And a delay

will allow us to accomplish the desegregation in the most peaceful

Mm -hmm.

Which would be the best thing for those black students. Exactly.

So, you give us the injunction, we take it to federal court. I won't give it to

you. Your Honor, all we're trying to do is... I know exactly what you're trying

to do. And it doesn't pass the smell test.

Your Honor, if we announce to the town...

That those buses are rolling in here on Monday.

Things could just blow up.

Well, if you want to stop those buses, you'll have to get the federal court to

do it. I won't.

Very well.

We go to federal court.

I'd think real hard on that.

The only thing you'll succeed in is telling those black students that

not welcome here.

And that could buy you the very trouble you're afraid of.

Look,

you know as much as we do, the federal court order's already in place. What I

want to know is how you two get to be mayor. It's a temporary position until

election. Yeah, why you, Jill? You have no political background.

I'm supposed to feel safe with you in charge, no offense.

Well, first of all, I have excellent diplomatic skills, and second of all,

can stick it up your ass.

Dr. Brown! Just one question, please! Go on, just clear out. Just do it.

Kitty, look, we need to go over these trial transcripts, okay? We need to get

your signatures.

For our Supreme Court briefs, we're going to want a verified amendment.

What does that mean?

If you agree to Steno, did your testimony right. You just signed the

We can do this in my office, okay? The sooner the better. Sorry.

He gave it to me.

I subscribe.

That and National Geographic.

So I can see all the places I know I'll never get to visit.

I just read the interviews.

Clear this hallway.

We have to stick to reason.

So we'll argue the overcrowding of the schools, the suddenness. How about the

potential violence?

I mean, the parents worry. Or the efficacy of forced busing in general.

studies show that it just doesn't work.

That's a loser. This judge obviously thinks it does work. Who is this judge?

He's progressive, proactive, and black.

He wants busing to work, and he wants it to work in Rome.

And trust me on this.

If we go in there hysterical, arguing gang violence or anything that smacks of

racial paranoia, we are dead.

I've appeared before this judge.

You don't want to make him angry.

Time.

All they want is time.

Well, that's all they wanted in Little Rock in 1958.

And that's all Rome wants today.

Your Honor, nobody loves righteous indignation more than I. It is a tone

often employ with juries, but I don't think that a federal court judge is

to be fooled by it.

Don't overestimate me, counsel.

We are here today in the spirit of simple pragmatism. You find

be anti -pragmatic, counsel?

I certainly do not.

But forced integration?

In a sudden manner?

To order a plan which gives the school system no time to prepare? Prepare

emotionally? Or are we still talking pragmatic here?

The latter.

Your Honor, this court order poses a logistical apocalypse.

Classes are already in session. An influx of 400 new students next Monday

have a devastating administrative effect.

It will present problems of overcrowding in the classroom. There are 7 ,000

students in Rome.

Surely 400 more will not make it. Exactly. The schools are already

Plus which, there could be special ed needs posed by this plan. And yes, there

could be some social problems necessitating more counselors or other

extreme needs.

This is a major undertaking.

To do it in a rash manner invites chaos. It begs tumult. But the fall session is

beginning now.

Now, suppose we wait a couple of months and then bring the students in.

Wouldn't that be even more disruptive, changing things in the middle of a

term? No.

With time, we can prepare for change. The adjustments can be made with

considered planning and... Oh, come on now, Counsel.

What planning?

The teachers have their syllabuses. They know what they're going to teach.

So you have a couple of extra kids in class.

You buy a few more books.

So what's all this adjustment about?

Your Honor. You see, we've just arrived at the crucial point of this hearing,

Mr. Dale.

It's just about now I've got to gauge just how credible a petitioner you are.

For me to find you persuasive, I've got to believe that you're coming at me

straight.

So I'm asking you again.

We're talking a few extra kids per class.

We handle the transportation from our end, so what's all this adjustment

Your Honor, this is obviously a very white community.

The sudden influx of inner -city black youth is going to result in some people

being concerned, even paranoid.

I see.

And by recognizing this potential paranoia and responding to it, how do I

perpetuate it?

I'm simply making a plea for common sense.

By pushing this integration plan too fast, you are promoting a volatile

situation. And by holding off, I'm legitimizing a public panic grounded in

racism.

Suppose there is violence, Your Honor.

A kid winds up dead.

What, you're going to sit up there proud, having clung to your principal?

Are you going to lecture me on my principles, Mr. Dell? I'm simply

that while you are perched high, wrapped in the safety of that cloak, these

people will have to live in that town.

Their children are in those schools, and you are making those schools less safe.

By populating it with black students?

By affecting a climate of racial tension.

I see.

Well, Mr. Dell.

You have indeed persuaded me. I now have a much better understanding of the town

of Rome. So I'm going to modify my original order.

The only argument I give any credence to is the one of overcrowding. I certainly

don't want to see congested classrooms.

So to accommodate for the 400 students I'm bringing in, I'm ordering that 400

Rome students be bussed out to Green Bay.

What?

Well, I share your space concerns, Mr. Dell.

I also share your concerns over Rome's cultural attitudes.

They need attention.

Your Honor, you can't be serious.

Oh, but I can.

And I leave it to your school board to decide which of your children will go.

But 400 of them will go.

So have a lovely day in your lovely town.

Adjourned. Are there any more?

Excuse me?

Pictures.

Are there any others that could surface that I should know about?

That's all there is.

Look, I know this isn't easy for you, okay?

Thank you.

And I don't mean to jump back on my credibility soapbox again, but you were

arresting officer on a case that's now going to the Supreme Court.

You gotta have a response to this.

So, I gotta ask you.

Why?

They were just for me.

So that I'd have them when... I don't know, when I was old.

You wanted these pictures for yourself when you were old?

Look, I don't have to explain myself to you.

No, you don't.

When I was a girl...

I always dreamed about being pretty enough to be in one of those magazines.

The, uh... The pictures were just for me.

Or maybe to show my husband one day.

I don't know.

Look, I'm very sorry that this happened.

Let's review these transcripts, okay?

Excuse me, Your Honor. I'm eating my lunch.

Is it your intent to disrupt my lunch?

To disrupt it with an ex parte communication?

I'll be very brief.

This is Jill Brock, Mayor Pro Tem of Rome, Wisconsin.

How do you do?

Fine, thank you. Your Honor, we could not be more supportive of the spirit of

integration.

Yes.

Well... I'd like to suggest a proposal.

Revoke the part about busting the Rome kids out.

And give us a month.

Just one month to prepare for the Green Bay kids coming in.

And we will make this work.

We'll make it work beautifully.

You disturbed my lunch with a proposal?

Did it look like I was negotiating up there on that bench as I was sending you

the message? Come here, though, with a counter -offer.

Um, no.

We're just trying to appeal to common sense. I hate appeals, and I loathe

sense. Your Honor, please.

You come to me with a proposal.

Now, that disrespects me.

It says you don't take my orders seriously. We're just trying to show you

big a problem we have.

Well, you got that right, Madam Mayor. We have ourselves a very big problem.

problem and i'm trying to deal with it and i'm ordering you to deal with it

what if we get picked i don't know but worse what if they come

zach you'd be the first ones they kill they wouldn't kill us i read where black

kids kill each other i know but we even got red hair they wouldn't kill

us black people are the same as white people

They just have different skin.

Otherwise, they're just the same.

Johnny Simpson's black.

You like him?

I know.

But it's different when they're in groups.

Look, I'm sure we won't get picked, and even if we do, it'll be fun.

Then how come Mom and Dad are scared?

I don't know.

There's always private school. If our kids get picked, then we'll just...

why don't we just designate a different neighborhood so they don't get picked?

Well, we can't do that, Jimmy. That's not fair. A lottery's the only way to be

fair. We've got to be fair here. Jill, I don't care how liberal -minded we're

supposed to be. We're not letting our children be bused to an inner -city

with gangs.

Well, listen to you. You sound like me.

So what's going to happen?

Well, we've called a special town meeting for tomorrow, Saturday.

We'll tell the people and then we'll sit back and... I don't know, watch the

roof blow off the building.

This is a good town.

And it's an enlightened community.

These people here will handle it.

in determining which of our children shall be bused to Green Bay.

We've decided to do it by lottery.

Now, wait, wait.

This is the only fair way, unless a particular neighborhood would like to

volunteer. Jill,

why do we have to go along with this at all? There's a federal mandate, Ed. We

have a court order.

We have appeals, but that doesn't stay the district court's ruling.

If we don't abide, the town could be held in contempt.

And then what? Excuse me?

Well, I'd like to know if a town enjoys any independence here. It doesn't. All

right, all right. Hold on, hold on now.

One possibility is to immediately establish a private school.

For a nominal tuition, we can call it a private school, and it is not subject to

busing. Henry Novotny has offered the use of his church. The court will see

through that and hold you in contempt.

Hey, listen, can I say something? I'd like to be heard.

Thank you.

My name is Ed Lawson.

I'm an employee of the United States Postal Service. I work for the

And I'm loyal to it.

But it's got to be the most mismanaged institution in the world. I mean, they

can't pass bills on health care. We're getting off the point here, Mr. Lawson.

No, it's not off the point. The government's trying to come in here and

affairs when they can't even handle their own. Why should we trust them? Why

should we assume they know what's best for us? Let's stick to the subject at

hand. I'm on the subject.

The point is it's been up to the small town to survive on its own, and we've

done that.

We've built up our schools. We've done a good civic thing. It's a good town to

raise our kids where they can grow up safe.

Now, how dare these people back in Washington think that they can just

here and say, hey, we don't care about your safety. We've got our own plan.

We're going to bus in 400 black kids from gangland, and if that screws things

for your kids, tough.

They're saying to us we've got to send our kids to Green Bay where the

is who knows what, where they could get shot?

Not my 10 -year -old.

Not my daughter.

No, I say let's stand up to these federal sons of bitches. I say I'd

secede than let them take our kids.

Do you

mind

if I share this podium?

Don't make it a black thing. This isn't a black thing.

May I say what I choose to say?

Free country?

Supposedly.

Oh.

I, too, am a parent.

My son Jason is 16.

My daughter Sandra is 15.

Their mother and I brought them here two years ago.

For the same reason, I guess.

We thought this would be a good place to raise a family.

It wasn't easy for them.

It meant saying goodbye to friends they had known all their lives.

And they were scared.

of moving into a community that was this white.

But I told them, this is a good community.

This was a town that would welcome them. And you know what? It did.

My kids are happy.

And I'm happy as a parent because I got them into a community that I thought

would help raise them to be good people.

And I was proud of them.

So truly proud.

And to think that maybe because of my family and their sacrifices,

and maybe the sacrifices of other black families in Rome, Wisconsin, that this

community comes closer to being what those American freedom slogans are all

about.

Well, imagine.

how proud I am today to sit and listen to this room

rumble with panic over the idea of black students infiltrating the

schools.

Imagine how honored I am to live in a community that can fear people because

the color of their skin. Now you say it's not a black thing. It is a black

thing.

You're talking about opening up private schools so that the colors can't be bust

into them.

I am standing here with so much civic pride, I am bursting.

I am bursting.

So... So now, I got to go home today.

and tell my kids that the reason Rome, Wisconsin welcomed them

was because they showed up in small numbers.

Imagine.

Imagine how truly proud I feel today.

What are you doing here?

Penance. For what?

I don't know.

What's the expression? All it takes for evil to succeed is for good black men to

do nothing.

So that's why you're in church?

Guilt?

I do not support busing.

And a district attorney should stay out of political debate.

But I should have been in that room.

And for no other reason than just to look a few of those people in the eye.

What are you doing here?

Actually, I come here a lot in the afternoons after the place empties out.

I just like to sit, think.

Yeah.

Thank you.

For what?

For not tearing into me about those pictures.

I know they just made your job that much tougher.

One of these days I'm going to stop humiliating myself and everyone around

Yeah, well, you let me know.

It would be nice.

If we could wave a wand and wipe out all racial tension, I, too, would be very

proud to think that I live in a community that would welcome these inner

youths if they felt honored and privileged to come here.

But that isn't the case, is it?

So what do we do?

Ride it out?

Dig in and just try to survive all the turmoil? Because we know that after all

of the hatred, maybe violence,

Rome would be a better place?

Well, we could do that.

But not me.

I'm all for equality.

But I do not want to see it achieved at the expense of my children.

None of us wants to send our kids to Green Bay to go to a school in a gang

None of us.

Let's be honest.

wants gang kids put into our schools here.

There could be bloodshed. At a minimum, it will make our schools less safe.

I'm a pretty liberal person, but I gotta say, ashamed as I may be,

if those buses come in...

I'll be moving my family out.

Suppose they don't come, Mr. Kramer. Suppose this little mob demonstration

those buses out. What's the victory?

Well, maybe our kids could grow up then. Grow up as what?

Maybe some of them will move out. Where will they tell people they came from? A

place where they didn't just put up fences around the yards, but a place

they sealed off the whole town?

For what?

To keep out the unwanted.

Wow, that's certainly a community worth protecting, isn't it? You don't have

kids, Carter. You're not helping them by passing on prejudice. Isn't that too

simple? I'll keep you more busy. You're worried about black students, innocent

people. The Supreme Court might let Brian Latham back on the street. He's a

killer. Nobody's talking about that. We're all talking about it. It's just

another reason why we can't trust the government. I'm at the podium now.

I'll go play with the court.

That's the very ignorance we're dealing with here.

You're calling me ignorant, Carter? Yes, as a matter of fact, I am.

All right,

let's go.

Back it off.

All right, come on.

Back off.

Damn it.

Superior Court from Hogan County says it'll only take a minute.

Send him in.

My name is Henry Bone.

Oh, I know who you are.

And you know why I'm here.

You think you're leaving a legacy?

Maybe they'll all toast you on Martin Luther King Day.

Big deal.

Forest busing is dangerous.

If it's done arbitrarily, it's deadly.

And you think I just arbitrarily picked Rome, a town that let an HIV dentist

practice medicine, a town that let a priest with a shoe fetish keep his

Oh, no.

I know Rome, Wisconsin, very well.

And I also like to think I know a little about Judge Henry Bone.

You're the public conscience of that little village.

I bet they all came running to you over this busing crisis, wanting you to

enjoin my order.

You probably told them to go to hell, right?

Well, I'm hoping that the people of Rome will once again heed their Judge Henry

Bone. This issue's bigger than me.

And you.

It's been 40 years since Brown v.

Board of Education.

Do you know how much has happened since then?

Not enough.

Right. And I figure if we just reach out into the heartland, then what better

place to get a kickstart than in Rome?

Oh, it's a weird town.

But I like it.

Part of a town's bliss comes from getting to think it's free from bigotry.

Your ruling could shatter that illusion.

Sometimes the best projects come from breakage.

You want to leave a legacy, Your Honor?

Just remember, whatever happens, it will be your legacy.

So, what's your take on all this?

I don't know.

Well, how would you feel if 400 kids suddenly showed up at your school?

I'd... I'd probably be scared.

Because they're black?

No, not because they're black, but because I'd be afraid they'd hate me

I was white.

That's racist to assume they'd be racist.

Sorry. Excuse me.

All right,

everybody, settle down, please.

Please be quiet. We'd all like to be heard here.

All right.

My co -mayor, Jason Steinberg, and I have met together with Council Franklin

Dell.

We've considered our options and we've reached a decision.

We're all law -abiding people, but today our conscience as law -abiding citizens

is in direct conflict with our role as parents.

That's the base of our protest. It's the concern for the safety of our children.

But as Carter Pike says, are we protecting them by passing on prejudice?

Because it is prejudice, let's be honest.

If the children to be bused weren't black and from the inner city, we

would all be in church right now singing Jerusalem.

We're prejudiced.

Whatever it is we think we're protecting, it certainly isn't our

our idealism.

Unfortunately, parents today can't get as wrapped up in idealism as they used

to.

The best thing sometimes is just to give our kids a fighting chance and hope to

God that they survive.

And because it's about survival most, our decision is to defy the federal

court order.

All right!

Quiet, please.

Quiet, everybody.

Please listen.

All right, wait.

Please listen.

We have a very difficult path.

See, the question becomes, what happens when a town finally stands up to the

federal government and says, no, we're not going to take it anymore?

Please, please, stop it. Stop it, please.

Cheering doesn't help, especially when our common ground is latent bigotry.

Please, let's not celebrate that.

Let's concentrate on what we have to do.

Now, our plan is simple.

We will not let our children go to Green Bay.

And we will not welcome into our schools the children from Green Bay.

I apologize to the students from Green Bay and to their families, but today

has to think about Rome.

Mr. Dell will now explain to you the legal consequences of our actions.

The mayor and the school board will likely be held in contempt of federal

Now, there should be no...

Sanctions taken against any of you, no direct sanctions, but federal services

could be cut off.

The main thing is, our civil disobedience

will likely affect an immediate appellate review of the district court

Now, there is a chance that we can get the busing decree overturned at that

point. At the very least, we should be able to prevent our kids from being

out.

Now, should we lose on the incoming issue, we will at least buy some time

to accomplish the integration plan in an orderly manner.

Dr. Bronson.

All right.

Now, before we put the plan through, we're going to hold it open to voice

But before we do that, I just want you all to think about something.

I've lived in this town for 13 years.

I've seen one of my sons shot.

I've had a daughter kidnapped.

Rome has been a town of considerable hardship.

But this day, by far, is the saddest.

If we say to those black children from Green Bay, no, you cannot come to Rome,

Wisconsin.

because of fear or whatever.

It's the saddest day ever.

We put a stain on Rome, Wisconsin, for all time.

Yes, we have to protect our children.

But at what cost?

I'm going to put this open to voice vote now.

If you want us to defy the busing order, please indicate now with your applause.

Well, isn't this a happy time?

I don't work on Mondays. I fish.

What are you fishing for here?

Seems the people here didn't heed Henry Bone after all. They also didn't heed

me. Now, that's a big mistake.

Well, 8 o 'clock in the morning. You get started early, don't you?

Well, the kids from Green Bay won't be arriving till about 9.

What?

Those kids are coming.

whether the good people of Rome, Wisconsin welcome them or not.

Are you nuts?

I just told your mayor, now I'm telling you.

I've got nothing to do with it.

Then find something to do.

Talk to them.

Make them understand they pissed off the wrong judge.

Hey, if you think I'm about to do your bidding, you just picked the wrong

You may scare a lot of people.

I'm not one of them. This is your town, your county.

What happens inside these borders is your legacy.

Do you really know what you're doing?

Yeah, Judge.

I do.

What can we do? Short of a military response, nothing now, but I'll tell you

this.

Letting those kids go into the schools with the climate in this town right now.

That's dangerous.

What are you suggesting?

I'm suggesting you put a cop in every classroom, in the hallways, too. And you

might consider restraining the parents from going to the schools. They'll only

exacerbate the tension.

I can't believe this is happening.

Jimmy, assemble your men. Go down to the school. Keep those students from

getting off the buses.

What? Is there any chance there won't be violence if we let those kids in?

After we've declared them to be unwelcome, is there any chance they

the hostility?

She's right. What choice do we have?

Just let things erupt. I mean, what choice do we have?

Go, Jimmy. Police blockade. You've got 20 minutes.

Jill, there's a big difference between... I'm not your wife talking.

mayor. Do it.

This is unbelievable.

I apologize.

My first priority has to be to prevent violence. I apologize.

Jimmy!

Here we go.

One and two, take the walkway.

Move it, move it, move it, move, move, move.

Sir, Brock.

Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Brent with the National Guard.

We're just here to get some kids into school, sir. Would you instruct your men

to let them through? Well, my orders are to keep the kids on the bus.

My orders are that these kids will be in that school, sir.

You want a confrontation, Colonel?

Do you, Sheriff?

I have orders not to back down from one.

Now, these kids are going to get into the school.

All right, deputies, listen

up. Sheriff Brock here.

Abandon the last order. That's right.

Repeat. Abandon.

That's an order.

Thank you, sir.

Okay, let's not be late.

Open it up.

Come on, son.