 Mitch Potter, writing in the "Toronto Star", reported that Rucker and her friends encountered considerable local opposition to the idea of an integrated prom.Not only wouldn't the local school board make space available, they wouldn't even sign a general letter of support for the idea of an integrated party.Potter described Mareshia as coming from a strong family, still considered newcomers to rural Rochelle, Georgia, even though her grandmother moved her family there decades ago.