A national civil rights monument is under construction in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, honoring the 85 brave students who integrated Oak Ridge public schools in 1955 — years before the Clinton 12, Little Rock Nine, and Ruby Bridges became household names in the fight for school desegregation.
The Scarboro 85 Monument commemorates the students, teachers, and community members whose courage led to the first desegregation of a public school in the Southeastern United States, and its design will help preserve their story for generations to come.
This monument owes much of its momentum to the tireless advocacy of Robertsville Middle School teacher John Spratling. As Chairman of the Scarboro 85 Monument Committee, Spratling has led the charge to raise the millions needed to bring this vision to life. Spratling has been outspoken about making sure Oak Ridge and the Scarboro 85 claim their rightful place in the civil rights history timeline. His dedication has helped transform a local story of courage into a national landmark
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