Southern Manifesto: 101 Congress Members Pledge to Resist Desegregation

On March 12, 1956, 101 U.S. senators and representatives from the South sign the 'Declaration of Constitutional Principles,' known as the Southern Manifesto, pledging to use 'all lawful means' to reverse Brown v. Board of Education. Signatories include 19 senators and 82 representatives. The document calls Brown 'a clear abuse of judicial power' and commends 'the motives of those states which have declared the intention to resist.' It provides political cover and encouragement for massive resistance to desegregation.