14-2 The Movement Gains Ground

Student Activists Make a Difference Change was slow Young African Americans became more determined. Sit-ins challenged segregation a form of protest where participants sit and refuse to move 4 African American college students ordered doughnuts and coffee at a Woolworth’s lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina in 1960 and were refused.

In Harlem and many other northern communities, Movement supporters picket Woolworths and other chain stores to support the southern sit-ins. Rather than serve African Americans, this Walgreen's lunch- counter closes "in the interests of public safety." Other cafes and lunch- counters call the cops to arrest Blacks for the crime of ordering a cup of coffee in defiance of the segregation laws. Sit-ins occur across the nation

Other forms of protest Wade-ins at public beaches Read-ins at libraries Activists carried picket signs Wrote letters to newspapers Wrote letters to government officials

SNCC PROMOTES NON VIOLENT PROTEST Ella Baker forms the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee Too slow Moral issue Goal: create a new movement that involved all classes of African Americans to defeat racism.

Freedom Ride What do you think it means? Predict how freedom rides might encourage the federal government to address the Civil Rights issues?

Riding for Freedom gbh/americanexperie nce/freedomriders/ Interstate = between states Travel between the states regulated by THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT! Activists are testing the fed’s willingness to enforce the law Previously - Boynton v. Virgina (Supreme Court rules segregation on interstate buses illegal) CORE stages a “freedom ride” through the south. 2 separate buses from Washington D.C. to New Orleans. En route they defied segregation codes

Why do you think they picked this route?

Freedom Riders Face Angry Mobs Pro-segregationists firebombed one bus. When the second bus arrives a white mob attacked the riders.

President Kennedy Takes Action to stop the violence Police & state troopers agree to protect the riders. Federal Transportation Commission mandates desegregation of interstate transportation. *goal No intervention when Mississippi arrests the riders for disturbing the peace.

Checkpoint What did the freedom rides accomplish? -Desegregation of interstate transportation -Showed intimidation would not stop activists theprize/resources/vid/05_video_riders _ra.html ntheprize/story/05_riders.html

Protest & Confrontations Intensify Protesters put pressure on the federal government to end legal segregation. (de jure) NAACP supports James Meredith in enrolling in University of Mississippi. Ole Miss ordered by federal government to desegregate with the help of Medgar Evans Stand off between governor and the federal government. A riot erupts – federal marshals battle white protestors 160 injured and 2 dead

Kennedy Addresses the Nation American’s are free... To disagree with the law but not to disobey it. For any government of laws..., no man, however prominent & powerful... Is entitled to defy a court of law.”

King Campaigns in Birmingham Birmingham = most segregated city in the south King is jailed and then released Demonstrations increase Children join “freedom marches” Video – Children’s March Americans are shocked and call on President to react.

Kennedy Back Civil Rights Declared that the nation had an obligation to “fulfill its promise” of giving all Americans “equal rights and equal opportunities.” Sends to Congress a proposal for Civil Rights legislation

The Century – Poisoned Dreams g8I 1 of 3 g8I IE&feature=watch_response 2 of 3 IE&feature=watch_response 1D0 3 of 3 1D0

Checkpoint How did Meredith & King prompt Kennedy to promote civil rights? Kennedy saw the violence after Meredith and insist laws be obeyed. King’s letter from jail persuaded Kennedy to send legislation to Congress

14-2 March on Washington Pressure on Congress to pass civil rights bills. NAACP, SCLC, SNCC, labor unions, and religious groups. 250,000 demonstrators VERY PEACEFUL Largest demonstration in D.C. ever TV Coverage

Who? The "Big Six" organizers were James Farmer, of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) Martin Luther King, Jr., of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) John Lewis, of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) A. Philip Randolph, of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters; Roy Wilkins, of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Whitney Young, Jr., of the National Urban League.

What? The stated demands of the march were – the passage of meaningful civil rights legislation – the elimination of racial segregation in public schools – protection for demonstrators against police brutality – a major public-works program to provide jobs – the passage of a law prohibiting racial discrimination in public and private hiring – $2 an hour minimum wage – self-government for the District of Columbia, which had a black majority.

1.Rally at the Washington Monument 2. Marched along the mile-long area of the National Mall towards the Lincoln Memorial. 3. Three-hour program -National Anthem; remarks from A. Philip Randolph, Mrs. Medgar Evers, Rabbi Uri Miller, and Roy Wilkins, speech by Martin Luther King Jr. 4. Following the march and program, the day’s scheduled activities ended in a meeting between the leaders of the march and President Kennedy at the White House

Calling for a peaceful, self- disciplined gathering, the organizers asked participants “to resist provocations to disorder and violence” so that “no one in our own ranks, however, enthusiastic, shall be the spark for disorder.” The back of the program also included a listing of the demands being sought as a result of the demonstration.

King delivers speech “I Have a Dream”

Check Point Why was the March on Washington a good place to demonstrate? What is considered the highlight of the march? Washington is the site of the US government which has the power to pass new laws to protect the rights of African Americans The “I Have a Dream” speech by Martin Luther King Jr.

Exit Out - WHICH WOULD YOU CHOOSE? What are the pros and cons of each? Peaceful Protest Picketing Wade-ins Sit-insRead-ins Letters to newspaper Letters to government Marches