a
reference to Clinton, Tennesee, and Clay, Kentucky, two United
States cities where violence
erupted in the 1950s when attempts were made to desegregate the
public schools. A number of people refused to allow black
children into the formerly all-white
public schools and held protests which led to outbreaks of violence. The National Guard were called in to restore
order and shortly thereafter both areas had desegregated
schools.