Violence and the Civil Rights Movement

Murder of Emmit Till

Aug 28, 1955

Emmit Till, a black teen, was murdered for talking to a white woman. This murder inspired blacks to try and do something about their treatment.

Troops sent for Little Rock 9

Sep 24, 1957

President Eisenhower sent troops to protect nine black students that wanted to go to school. This event showed how serious racism was.

Freedom Riders attacked

May 14, 1961

Black people wanted to test interstate bus laws and were beaten. This event pushed blacks to do more for themselves.

William Lewis Moore Murder

Apr 23, 1963

William Lewis Moore was murdered while marching buy himself. His murder drove large groups of blacks to assemble and march.

Birmingham Police Brutalize protestors

May 3, 1963

In Birmingham police put dogs and high pressure hoses on protestors. This act made blacks feel that they had to be strong, for everyone.

Assassination of Medgar Evers

Jun 12, 1963

Ever was shot in his head when pulling into his driveway. This pushed blacks to fight for what Evers fought gor to keep his legacy alive.

Church Bombing in Burmingham Alabama

Sep 15, 1963

KKK members bombed the 16th st. church in Burmingham, Alabama and killed two women. This made black leaders more intolerable towards hate crimes.

Civil Rights Workers Killed

Jun 21, 1964

James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerener were kidnapped and killed by Klansmen. This Made more activists step up.

Death of Jimmie Lee Jackson

Feb 26, 1965

Jimmie LEe Jackson was shot by a state trooper in Marion, Alabama. This murder made blacks resent authority even more than before.

Assassination of MLK

Apr 4, 1968

Martin Luther King was shot in the head on the balcony of a motel. This pissed off blacks and made them angry