RUBY BRIDGES WOWS 'EM AT CHS: "I REFUSE TO BELIEVE THERE IS MORE EVIL THAN THERE IS GOOD."

A standing-room-only crowd turned out Thursday night for civil rights icon Ruby Bridges at Columbia High School. 

The first student to integrate an all-white school in the south received several standing ovations as she addressed the capacity crowd at the CHS auditorium and talked about what it was like for her to be the only black student in the New Orleans' William Frantz School back in 1960 when federal marshals had to escort her to class and angry racist crowds protested. She was six years old.

She described the scene as one of fear, but more curiosity about why she was the only black student in the school, and for most of the time the only student in her classroom.

"I had no idea what was going to happen, I was six years old," she told the crowd. "There is really no way to prepare your child ... so my parents didn't try... when they hear that if they sent their child to this all-white school and have a better education and a chance to go to college, they were really excited about it."

She talked about the questions her six-year-old mind had at the time, wondering where other students were and why so many adults were angry. 

"Every day when I had to cross that mob of people, they were screaming and shouting things, saying they are going to poison her, hang her," she recalled. "The federal marshals would stay outside my door, and I would eat my lunch at my desk. I kept saying to myself, 'where are the kids?'" 

Bridges later revealed the pain she went through as an adult when one of her four children was murdered, but how she continues to push for peace and racial justice, and urged parents and students to keep the positive actions going.

"We can turn our country around, I refuse to believe that there is more evil than there is good," she said, sparking applause. "We will not stamp out racism in my lifetime maybe not yours. But we can definitely make a dent ... I urge you to help me."

Most in the crowd were mesmerized as she held them in her hand by mixing humor with serious issues and letting her emotions out while keeping a positive approach going. Video was not allowed to be taken, but photos were being snapped up all night. 

After her hour-long speech, Bridges sat down with students from each elementary school who asked her questions about what it was like as a youngster and how she felt about today's racial situation.