In terms of elected officials in Fairfax County and their views on segregation, Donahue notes that two of Fairfax County's elected federal Representatives, Democratic Representative Howard W. Smith and Republican Representative Joel Broyhill, were both committed segregationists, Smith in particular. (Donohue, 2017).

In contrast, Fairfax County's state Delegate James C. Webb and state Senator John A.K. Donovan were both opponents of Massive Resistance. Donovan served for years on the interracial reform committee that worked with the Fairfax NAACP to get Luther Jackson High Shcool opened. (Donohue, 2017).

March 3 - The "Defenders of State Sovereignty and Individual Liberties" make their first official presentation to the Board. Manning Gasch, the President, who previously appeared in Board minutes opposing school construction bonds, protested "the appearance of negro manager of an athletic team of the Western High School at a game at Fairfax High School, purportedly with full knowledge of the Fairfax High School coach." The "Defenders" as they were called in short, requested that the Board make sure no games with integrated schools were scheduled.

The Board assured the Defenders that "it was cognizant of the ramifications of integrated sprots, and under Virginia Law, could not permit that our schools participate in same." (Fairfax County School Board, 1955, March 1)

A rebutting group then spoke, presenting a petition signed by 46 members of the White Oaks Civic Association of Fairfax County, who "wish to make known to the Fairfax County School Board [...] that athletic events between our Virginia schools and integrated schools in no way violates the letter or the spirit of our Virginia State law. Wfeel that sports events are an ideal medium for the growth of understanding betwen people of different countries, people of different colors, people of different faiths, and people of different stations in life." (Fairfax County School Board, 1955, March 1)

No discussion on the desegregation issue at March 4, March 17, April 5, April 14, April 21, May 3, Board Meetings until a Defenders letter comes up on May 24.

"Since it evidently is the plan of this dissident group to attempt to break up meetings in the county, it is important for other citizens not to be intimidated by them. Their activities merely betray how sadly unacquainted thery are with the libertarian tranditions of the state they profess to defend." - Washington Post editorial page, May 2, 1955

May 24, 1955 - In response to "Defenders" complains, the FCPS Board directs that principals be reminded that "they are to abide by the laws of the State of Virginia governing segregation"

July 5 - state Superintendent's new memo regarding Brown v. Board of Education was read to the Board. It read, in part:

"The state Board of Education and the local political sub-divisions cannot initiate a plan to accomplish an orderly and logical adjustment within the law until the General Assembly has enacted appropriate legislation. The State Board is of the opinion that hasty action could well result in serious damage to the public school system. [...]

"The Governor and the State Board of Education hereby declare and adopt as policy of this Commonwealth that the State Board of Education will continue to administer its functions [...] to the end that the public schools of Virginia open and operate through the coming school session as heretofore."

Board members made no comment on the record in response to this memo. (Fairfax County School Board, 1955, July 5) The issue was not discussed at the next meeting on July 21,

August 11 - The Board read a telegram from a woman opposing a school bond referendum before the November election. A motion from Robinson to set the November election date for a bond referendum failed for lack of a second. (Fairfax County School Board, 1955, August 11)

Board minutes indicate a substantial turnout from the public in response to the question of a bond referendum.

"The integration angle was injected also, this prompting the feeling that any program should be planned on a year-to-year basis."

Virginia Citizen's Committee on Better Schools testified in support of a "year-to-year" school building program "until such time as the official position of the State of Virginia can be fully appreciated' and spoke in support of the bond referendum be held the day of the General Election.

The Defenders of State Sovereignty and Individual Liberties, represented by Manning Gasch, questioned the legality of bonds, said a repeal of the compulsory attendance law would lower school enrollment, urged that any contruction should wait until after the 55-56 school year." (Fairfax County School Board, 1955, August 11)

In a follow-up meeting on August 13, the Board voted to set the amount of the bond to $22,000,000 over 5 years, with sales limited year-to-year to 20% of total bonds. (Fairfax County School Board, 1955, August 11)

In response to the complaints by the segregationist "Virginia Citizens' Committee for Better Schools", Chairman Davis caved to segregationist pressure and requested suggestions for renaming the committee and officially renamed it from the "Desegregation Committee" to the "Committee on Segregation". (Fairfax County School Board, 1955, September 20)

December 1956 Pupil Placement Board directives held that only student promoted to a higher-level school (elementary to junior high, etc.) or new incoming student could apply for placement.

April 1957 - Theo DeFebio, a white single mother who drove a taxi for a living, refused to sign the pupil placement forms for her 3 sons, objecting to them as racist, in opposition to Virginia's Massive Resistance to desegregation. FCPS, in response, expelled her 3 sons for over a year. (Donohue, 2017). Eighty five other parents from Alexandria also refused to sign the forms, as did hundreds of parents from Richmond (Donohue, 2017).

The Fairfax County NAACP noted, "Mrs. DeFebio's action [...] is a white person's simple refusal to be coerced by anti-NAACP laws, is another heartening sign that the NAACP is not alone in its fight for justice." (Fairfax County Branch NAACP, 1957)

June 2, 1958 - Fairfax resident Joyce Walther pens a scathing letter to Governor Almond objecting to the idea of closing schools because of integration and not allowing districts to have their own "local option" of integration if they wish.

Walther writes, "I am not a Yankee trying to give you advice. I was brought up in Texas to believe in segregation, but believe in getting away from it as quicly as local conditions allow now! Virginia should look forward instead of backward. (Walther, 1958)

October 11 - In executive session, the Fairfax County School Board discussed a letter from the Defenders of State Sovreignty and Individual Liberties "criticizing one of our [unnamed] high school principal's public statements on a controversial issue very much in the press lately." The Board declined to take action "other than whatever chastisement the Superintendent may wish to administer for the poor judgment used in making such public utterances." (Fairfax County School Board, 1958, October 11, p. 325)

February 2, 1959 - 4 Black students integrate Stratford Junior High School in Arlington

June 1959 - DeFebio lost her case in June of 1959, saying that she failed to show that the equal protection law had been violated, since she was white. Before the 1958-1959 school year began, she wrote to school officials to request placement for her youngest child, asking only that his race be recorded as "human." (Donohue, 2017)