Hundreds gather at Brown v. Board site to take in Obama’s inauguration

Several hundred people gathered at the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site in Topeka to watch on television in the refurbished elementary school auditorium the inauguration.

“I’m watching with a sense of hope and renewal and opportunity for our country,” said state Sen. David Haley, D-Kansas City, Kan.

He said the proceedings made him emotional. “It’s a remarkable day for our country and really for the world,” he said.

During the telecast, school children waved flags. Many adults had tears streaming down their faces.

The former Monroe School was at the center of the landmark 1954 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that declared segregation unconstitutional. The decision is hailed as one of the greatest human rights court cases in history.

The Brown v. Board site was opened in 2004 — the 50th anniversary of the decision — and then-President Bush spoke at the opening ceremonies.