The Clinton Twelve made history in January 1956. Federal judge Robert L. Taylor ordered Clinton High School to desegregate with "all deliberate speed" in accordance with the U.S. Supreme Court's 1954 ruling in Brown v. Board of Education. On August 27, 1956, 12 African-American students became the first to integrate a previously all-White school in Tennessee. Anti-integration campaigners from inside and outside Clinton protested the decision to integrate the school. They were inspired by New Jersey White supremacist John Kasper and Asa Carter both of whom spoke publicly in Clinton on September 1, 1956 against the decision to integrate the high school.
John Kasper, executive secretary of the Seaboard White Citizens Council, called for a mass protest meeting just before Clinton High School opened. Nonetheless on August 26, 1956, the Clinton Twelve made history as the first Blacks to integrate a previously all-White school in the state of Tennessee. The first day of desegregation saw no incidents but on the second day the Twelve faced threats of violence from fellow students and a crowd of adults led by Kasper. In response on August 29, 1956, Judge Taylor issued a restraining order on Kasper. After violence was narrowly averted on the lawn of the Anderson County Courthouse on September 1, National Guard troops were called into the city for two months to keep order.
The protests resulted in a jury trial for criminal contempt, of which seven of ten defendants were convicted. On Labor Day weekend, September 1-2, 1956, Whites rioted, overturning cars and smashing windows. Segregationists also threatened to blow up the mayor’s house, the local newspaper, and the Anderson County Courthouse. Tennessee Governor Frank Clement sent 600 Tennessee National Guardsmen and 100 Highway Patrolmen to the city to restore order. Although the violence ended, White segregationists continued to use intimidation tactics including burning crosses on the lawns of civic leaders and high school teachers.
Gunfire riddled the homes of two of the Clinton Twelve and dynamite was thrown at houses and businesses in the town’s African American neighborhood. Clinton High School principal David Brittain also received bomb threats, forcing him to send his family out of town for their safety. On December 4, 1956 Rev. Paul Turner, a White Baptist minister, and two Black men, Sidney Davis and Leo Burnett, escorted the Clinton Twelve back to Clinton High School. Afterwards a White mob attacked and severely beat Turner. Although Clinton High School was briefly closed until December 10 in response to the attack on Turner, the Black students remained at the school. The twelve Black students who attended Clinton High School that fall became known as the "Clinton 12".