-
SCLC is Founded
The Southern Christian Leadership Conference was formed by Martin Luther King Jr and some other African Americans clergyman. The SCLC stood for nonviolent protests and told people not to fight back even if they were attacked. This was a big deal because it was the first big civil rights group that stood for nonviolence -
Freedom Rides
After the Supreme Court banned segregated buses. Organizations like CORE and SNCC organized freedom rides. They expected violence but what they got in Anniston Alabama was far worse than expected. A mob with weapons attacked the bus and set it on fire and beat riders as they tried to escaped. The freedom rides were made to test southern compliance to the Supreme Court ruling and it proved that many people in the south didn’t accept it. -
March on Washington
President Kennedy was trying to pass a bill that would help end segregation and civil rights leaders organized a March on Washington. Over 200,000 people showed up to march. At this March M.L.K. Gave his “I Have a Dream” speech. The March was extremely successful but the bill was still stalled in Congress. -
Birmingham March
Martin Luther King Jr and reverend Fred Shuttesworth in a March in Birmingham Alabama. Officials from the city told them to end the March and arrested people when they didn’t. Martin Luther King Jr was one of the ones arrested. Police responded to the march with violence and Americans were horrified by the violence. -
24th Amendment
The 24th amendment outlawed poll taxes. Many times African Americans didn’t vote because of paying poll taxes. With them outlawed there was less in the way for African Americans to be heard and elect who they wanted and who could help them. -
Martin Luther King Jr is assassinated
While he was getting support for the Poor People’s Campaign Martin Luther King Jr was shot and killed. After his death violent riots broke out in over 120 cities and many Americans lost hope in nonviolent change.
