In July 1971, after various failed attempts by the Austin ISD to desegregate its schools, a U.S. District Court judge ordered the immediate implementation of a busing plan that would transport over 13,000 Austin students to integrated schools at a cost of more than $1 million."Local Integration Scheme Wins Nod," in The Austin American, July 20, 1971. Two pages of the 1972 Johnston High School yearbook were dedicated to largely negative reactions to busing by students.The Confederate [the yearbook of A.S. Johnston High School], 1972, pages 4–5. One student was reported as saying, "They ought to hang [busing] up. It’s not contributing to education. It’s just causing more hatred amongst the Black and White pupils because they can’t get along with each other."The Confederate [the yearbook of A.S. Johnston High School], 1972, page 5. The same yearbook reported that violent incidents erupted "as well as some well-spread rumors of upcoming violence,"The Confederate [the yearbook of A.S. Johnston High School], 1972, page 127. and that "thousands of students stayed away from school on May 1 [1972], which was being called ‘Bloody Monday,’ because of expected violence on local [Austin] campuses."The Confederate [the yearbook of A.S. Johnston High School], 1972, page 124.
