Ultimately vindicated 86 years later in the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, the Clark decision declaring public school segregation unconstitutional shows the courage of the Iowa judiciary, which stood virtually alone as other state supreme courts, including those considered progressive, embraced the "separate but equal" rationale of segregation. Iowa courts have repeatedly demonstrated the courage to protect citizens' constitutionally guaranteed rights, even in the face of public disagreement.