Challenging Segregation Pgs. 630 - 639 Chapter 18.2 Challenging Segregation Pgs. 630 - 639
The Sit-in Movement 4 Freshmen in Greensboro North Carolina Decided to attempt a sit-in at Woolworth’s This is both a retail store & lunch counter They were served @ the store but not the counter They stayed until the end of the day. And then the word spread 29 the next day and over 300 in a week Spread across the country Addressed the slow pace of the movement Gave students a way to participate
Cont. There were concerns though Could students maintain non-violence? Most could – despite serious attacks Saw a need to coordinate their efforts Created the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) Helped bring young people to the movement The Voter Registration Project Three young volunteers were murdered 2 were white and the third black It was the police who helped kill them
The Freedom Riders The Riders In 1961 CORE wants to test the law Freedom Riders take to the buses Expected “desegregation for a day” Got violence from the south Busses were attacked, firebombed, people arrested & beaten The Riders still came
Cont. Kennedy and Civil Rights Promised support for the movement Once president however… A few steps in the right direction The Justice Department Takes Action Bobby Kennedy starts investigations Offered help to Freedom Riders Wanted a “cooling off” Negotiated an end to the violence The busses kept rolling President Kennedy finally took action
Cont. James Meredith Air Force Veteran wants to attend Ole’ Miss Technically it is desegregated… but not really Governor of Mississippi literally blocks his way Kennedy sent in the US Marshals A riot broke out that lasted over a day Violence lead to many Marshals being injured Kennedy sent in the Army to take control Meredith graduates from the University of Mississippi (Ole ’Miss)
Violence in Birmingham Frustration Mounts with Kennedy The government only gets into it when there is violence King decides to “stir the pot” Goes to Birmingham Alabama, the most segregated city King is arrested – Letter from Birmingham Jail After King is released the protests take off The National spotlight is on Birmingham The President is forced to take action