On September 12, 1974, opposition to court-ordered school “busing” in Boston, Massachusetts, turned violent on the opening day of classes. Boston was geographically segregated at the time, and when the order to integrate was handed down in June of 1974, a forced busing plan was put into place. It was met by massive protests. Many families, white and black, kept their children home. By October, the National Guard had to mobilize to enforce the federal desegregation order.
