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On December 1st, 1955, Rosa Parks a civil rights activist sat down in the fifth row of a bus after working many hours for her job. Just then a white man stepped on the bus and she was ordered to give up her seat. She refused and was arrested. This is significant as it aimed more at bus reforms and seating issues with race. -
In a Woolsworth lunch counter in GreensBoro North Carolina, 4 black students Ezell Blair, David Richmond, Franklin McCain and Joseph McNeil sat down at a lunch counter which at the time was segregated. They politely asked to be served, in which the store responded by refusing to serve them. They refused to give up the seats and when the police arrived on scene they were unable to charge the men. Media had already arrived. This was significant as this was a big push for desegeregation. -
On May 14, 1961 freedom riders arrived at the Anniston, Alabama bus station. Led by then KKK leader William Chapel a mob of 50 people armed to the teeth started smashing and destroying the bus. Police broke it up and "escorted" the bus but instead abandoned it. Another armed mom started to gather and threw a firebomb into the bus. This event is very significant as it was one of the earliest protests to fight against civil rights. It showed the strength of the people who were fighting for rights. -
On August 28th Martin Luther King along with 250,000 people marched on Washington in an act of civil rights. King stood infront of a crowd and delivered one of the most famous speeches ever spoken. The nations biggest and brightest civil rights leaders attended to hear the words of King. This event was significant as it was one of the biggest culminations of Civil Rights to date. -
On April 4th 1968 at 6:05 PM Dr King was on the second floor balcony of the Lorraine motel in Memphis. A sniper bullet struck king in the neck and he was rushed to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. On June 8th police arrested James Earl Ray and found his fingerprints on the gun fired. This is a very significant event as it brought people together from all walks of life to see the true violence in hating others.