Civil Rights Gain Ground (early 1960s)
Student Activism Feb 1, 1960: Greensboro, NC – sit-in @ Woolworth’s lunch counter “Wade-ins”, “read-ins”, etc. Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) – grassroots movement
Woolworth’s converted to museum… lunch counter at Smithsonian in DC
Freedom Riders Draw attention to problem @ federal level May 1961: org. by CORE Ride 2 buses through deep south Violence? Convince Prez. to enforce law Firebombs, beaten, mobs
JFK Must Act Spring 1963: marches in Birmingham, AL MLK personally joins march, arrest – “Letter From Birmingham Jail” Photos of dogs, water JFK proposes sweeping civil rights legislation
March on Washington: Aug 28, 1963 Pressure Congress to pass new bill Major civil rights grps all there 200k demonstrators; peaceful “I have a dream” speech
Civil Rights Act of 1964 JFK assassinated Nov 1963– new prez LBJ Strong opposition in Congress; LBJ threw all support behind it Success!!!! Banned segregation in public Fed gov’t can force schools to deseg. Justice Dept can prosecute EEOC – no discrimination in employment
“I Have a Dream” https://www.wyzant.com/resources/lessons/history/hpol/mlk/ihavea dream