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U.S. Supreme Court
Landmark ruling declaring public school segregation unconstitutional.
May 17, 1954
Topeka, Kansas
This case set a precedent that propelled the Civil Rights Movement forward. -
Civil Rights leaders and activists
The continued fight for equality into the late 1960s and beyond.
The 1960s onward
Nationwide
The movement laid the groundwork for ongoing struggles for civil rights and social justice in America. -
Student activists
Formation of a major Civil Rights organization.
April 1960
Raleigh, North Carolina
SNCC played a central role in organizing protests and voter registration drives. -
Civil Rights activists
Bus trips to challenge segregated bus terminals.
May 1961
Throughout the South
Demonstrated the ongoing resistance to segregation laws and practices in the South. -
Civil Rights activists, including Martin Luther King Jr.
Massive rally advocating for civil and economic rights.
August 28, 1963
Washington, D.C.
Famous for MLK's "I Have a Dream" speech, it unified various Civil Rights groups around practical goals. -
President Lyndon B. Johnson
Comprehensive civil rights legislation.
July 2, 1964
Washington, D.C.
Outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. -
Malcolm X and his assassins
Assassination while giving a speech.
February 21, 1965
New York City
His death marked a turning point in the Civil Rights Movement. -
U.S. government
Increased military presence in Vietnam.
1965 onward
Vietnam
The escalation of the conflict led to growing anti-war sentiment in the U.S. -
Ohio National Guard, college students
Shooting of unarmed students protesting the Vietnam War.
May 4, 1970
Kent State University, Ohio
Four students were killed, sparking national outrage and protests against the Vietnam War. -
African Americans in Montgomery
Protest against racial segregation on public buses.
December 5, 1955, to December 20, 1956
Montgomery, Alabama
Sparked by Rosa Parks, this boycott marked a significant moment in the Civil Rights Movement.