Freedom RidersFreedom Riders

~ Volunteers, African American and white, rode in interstate buses into the ~ Volunteers, African American and white, rode in interstate buses into the segregated Southern USsegregated Southern US

~ They did this to test the 1960 United States Supreme Court decision Boynton ~ They did this to test the 1960 United States Supreme Court decision Boynton v. Virginia, which outlawed racial segregation in interstate transportation v. Virginia, which outlawed racial segregation in interstate transportation facilities, including bus stations and railroad terminalsfacilities, including bus stations and railroad terminals

~ A total of 436 Freedom Riders were arrested for trespassing, unlawful ~ A total of 436 Freedom Riders were arrested for trespassing, unlawful assembly, violating state and local “Jim Crow” laws, etc.assembly, violating state and local “Jim Crow” laws, etc.

~ The worst violence occurred when buses approached Birmingham, Alabama~ The worst violence occurred when buses approached Birmingham, Alabama

~ Police Chief Eugene “Bull” Connor openly conspired with Ku Klux Klan ~ Police Chief Eugene “Bull” Connor openly conspired with Ku Klux Klan members to beat and harass Freedom ridersmembers to beat and harass Freedom riders

~ In Anniston, Alabama, a bus was firebombed, forcing those Freedom Riders ~ In Anniston, Alabama, a bus was firebombed, forcing those Freedom Riders to exit, once they did, they were viciously beatento exit, once they did, they were viciously beaten

~ Freedom Riders inspired many subsequent civil rights campaigns, including ~ Freedom Riders inspired many subsequent civil rights campaigns, including voter registration, freedom schools, and the black power movementvoter registration, freedom schools, and the black power movement

Civil RightsCivil RightsSit-insSit-ins

The basic plan of the sit-ins was that a group of students would go to a lunch counter and ask The basic plan of the sit-ins was that a group of students would go to a lunch counter and ask to be served. If they were, they’d move on to the next lunch counter, if they were not, they to be served. If they were, they’d move on to the next lunch counter, if they were not, they would not move until they had beenwould not move until they had been

If they were arrested, a new group would take their placeIf they were arrested, a new group would take their place

the students would be dressed up in their best Sunday clothingthe students would be dressed up in their best Sunday clothing

When Northern students heard of the movement, they decided to help their Southern When Northern students heard of the movement, they decided to help their Southern counterparts by picketing local branches of chain stored that were segregated in the Southcounterparts by picketing local branches of chain stored that were segregated in the South

On February 27, 1960, sit-in students in Nashville were attacked by a group of white On February 27, 1960, sit-in students in Nashville were attacked by a group of white teenagers. Police arrived but they let the white teens go while arresting the protesters for teenagers. Police arrived but they let the white teens go while arresting the protesters for ”disorderly conduct””disorderly conduct”

In addition, the technique of the sit-in was used to integrate other public facilities, such as In addition, the technique of the sit-in was used to integrate other public facilities, such as movie theatersmovie theaters

Noemi C

Kimiko C

Angela C

Kitty L

Meaghan U

Kennedy and Civil RightsKennedy and Civil Rights

~ In 1962, James Meredith, an African American, tried to ~ In 1962, James Meredith, an African American, tried to enroll at the University of Mississippi, but he was enroll at the University of Mississippi, but he was prevented from doing so by white studentsprevented from doing so by white students

~ Kennedy responded by sending some 400 federal marshals ~ Kennedy responded by sending some 400 federal marshals and 3000 troops to ensure that Meredith could enrolland 3000 troops to ensure that Meredith could enroll

~ Kennedy also assigned federal marshals to protect ~ Kennedy also assigned federal marshals to protect Freedom RidersFreedom Riders

~ President Kennedy initially believed his views on civil rights ~ President Kennedy initially believed his views on civil rights would only anger many Southern whites and make it even would only anger many Southern whites and make it even more difficult to pass civil rights laws through Congress, more difficult to pass civil rights laws through Congress, which was dominated by Southern Democratswhich was dominated by Southern Democrats

~ As A result of him distancing himself from civil rights, many ~ As A result of him distancing himself from civil rights, many civil rights leaders viewed Kennedy as unsupportive of civil rights leaders viewed Kennedy as unsupportive of their effortstheir efforts

~ On June 11, 1963, Kennedy intervened when Alabama ~ On June 11, 1963, Kennedy intervened when Alabama Governor George Wallace blocked the doorway to the Governor George Wallace blocked the doorway to the University of Alabama to stop African American students University of Alabama to stop African American students from enrollingfrom enrolling

~ Wallace moved aside after being confronted by federal ~ Wallace moved aside after being confronted by federal marshals, and the Alabama National Guardmarshals, and the Alabama National Guard

Violence in BirminghamViolence in Birmingham

After violence broke out in Birmingham After violence broke out in Birmingham in Alabama, Kennedy sided entirely with in Alabama, Kennedy sided entirely with Martin Luther King Jr. and the civil Martin Luther King Jr. and the civil rights workers.rights workers.

In April of 1963, King lead a march In April of 1963, King lead a march through Alabama. In Birmingham, the through Alabama. In Birmingham, the police commissioner Eugene Connor police commissioner Eugene Connor used violence against the used violence against the demonstrators in the form of fire hoses, demonstrators in the form of fire hoses, clubs, and snarling dogs.clubs, and snarling dogs.

The media came into play here, The media came into play here, carrying pictures of the brutal attacks carrying pictures of the brutal attacks against men, women, and children alike against men, women, and children alike into homes all over Americainto homes all over America

In response, Kennedy sent 3,000 troops In response, Kennedy sent 3,000 troops in to restore peace. That June, a new in to restore peace. That June, a new civil rights bill was proposed by civil rights bill was proposed by Kennedy, stating that segregation was Kennedy, stating that segregation was now outlawed throughout the nationnow outlawed throughout the nation

Trouble in Southern Trouble in Southern UniversitiesUniversities

September 1962: James Meredith, September 1962: James Meredith, Mississippi – A veteran of the Air Mississippi – A veteran of the Air Force, he requested permission to Force, he requested permission to attend the University of attend the University of Mississippi. The Governor defied Mississippi. The Governor defied the court order and refused him the court order and refused him entrance, declaring “Never! We entrance, declaring “Never! We will never surrender to the evil and will never surrender to the evil and illegal forces of tyranny.” federal illegal forces of tyranny.” federal marshals, and eventually the marshals, and eventually the Mississippi National Guard were Mississippi National Guard were called upon by Kennedy to allow called upon by Kennedy to allow Meredith entrance to the Meredith entrance to the university. He was able to attend university. He was able to attend classes safely, however two classes safely, however two people died in a mob action.people died in a mob action.

June 1963: Alabama – Another civil rights issue is dealt June 1963: Alabama – Another civil rights issue is dealt with at the University of Alabama. with at the University of Alabama.

The violence of these confrontations convinced The violence of these confrontations convinced Kennedy of the need for federal legislation regarding Kennedy of the need for federal legislation regarding segregation and discrimination. He proposed laws segregation and discrimination. He proposed laws forbidding segregation in stores, restaurants, hotels, forbidding segregation in stores, restaurants, hotels, theatres, and in employment.theatres, and in employment.

However, schools did not cooperate with the federal However, schools did not cooperate with the federal laws, and remained segregated. Most southern laws, and remained segregated. Most southern African-American school children remained in all-black African-American school children remained in all-black schools. schools.

The March On The March On WashingtonWashington

August 28, 1963.August 28, 1963.

IntroductionIntroduction

““March on Washington March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom”for Jobs and Freedom”

Held in Held in commemoration of the commemoration of the 100th anniversary of 100th anniversary of the Emancipation the Emancipation ProclamationProclamation

Arguably the largest Arguably the largest and most famous civil and most famous civil rights demonstration rights demonstration ever held in the United ever held in the United StatesStates

The MarchThe March

Over 200 000 demonstrators attended, both Over 200 000 demonstrators attended, both black and white people, marching from the black and white people, marching from the Washington Monument to the Lincoln MemorialWashington Monument to the Lincoln Memorial

Included singing hymns and musical Included singing hymns and musical performances, and was covered extensively by performances, and was covered extensively by the mediathe media

King’s famous speech, “I have a dream…” was King’s famous speech, “I have a dream…” was delivered at the Lincoln Memorialdelivered at the Lincoln Memorial

Demands:Demands: Passage of Civil Rights LegislationPassage of Civil Rights Legislation Abolition of school segregationAbolition of school segregation Prohibition of racial discrimination in the Prohibition of racial discrimination in the

workforceworkforce Protection against police violenceProtection against police violence

Civil Rights ActCivil Rights Act

The March on Washington earned much support from the The March on Washington earned much support from the Congress for a civil rights billCongress for a civil rights bill

Passed the House of Representatives in February 1964, but Passed the House of Representatives in February 1964, but met resistance at the Senate, where the States were equally met resistance at the Senate, where the States were equally represented (Southerners opposed it)represented (Southerners opposed it)

Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passedCivil Rights Act of 1964 was passed Outlawed segregation of public facilitiesOutlawed segregation of public facilities Prohibited racial, gender, and religious discrimination in the Prohibited racial, gender, and religious discrimination in the

workforce and in educationworkforce and in education Strengthened right to voteStrengthened right to vote

Voting Rights ActVoting Rights Act Helped minorities such as Puerto Ricans and Mexican Helped minorities such as Puerto Ricans and Mexican

Americans voteAmericans vote