Section 2: The Struggle Intensifies

 Objectives  Describe the goals of sit-ins and Freedom Rides and the reactions they provoked.  Summarize civil rights protests in Albany, Georgia, and at “Ole Miss”  Explain how violence against protesters in Birmingham affected attitudes throughout the nation  Main Idea  The tactics of nonviolent protest, including sit-ins and boycotts, challenged segregation and brought change, but also generated violent confrontations.

 Sit – Ins  Created in 1943 by CORE to help desegregation  Simply sit down at segregated lunch counter or other public space and stayed where they were  Became a popular form of protest in the 1960’s  Often worked because it forced business owners to decide between serving the protestors or risking a disruption and loss of business.  Sometimes resulted in strong reactions (often times they were beaten or arrested)

 Boynton v. Virginia (1960) expanded desegregation on interstate buses (waiting rooms and restaurants)  1961 CORE with aid from SNCC organized Freedom Rides, a tactic to test whether southern states would obey the supreme court ruling.  Departed from Washington, D.C., on May 4 th 1961  In Atlanta group split into two groups and headed for the Deep South, the trip soon turned dangerous

 In Anniston, Alabama a mob met the first bus and threw a firebomb into the disabled bus  The riders escaped but were badly beaten as they ran off of the bus, they considered stopping the Freedom rider but participants begged to continue and did so.  Violence intensified in Birmingham and Montgomery and they were arrested upon there arrival in Jackson, Mississippi

 300 Freedom Riders continued protesting throughout the summer.  Attorney General Robert Kennedy sent federal marshals to protect the riders.  He took further measures pressuring the Interstate Commerce Commission to issue a ruling prohibiting segregation of ALL interstate transportation  The Justice Department sued local communities that did not comply

 October 1961, a year-long campaign of protest marches took place calling for the desegregation of bus terminals and talks with white community leaders (MLK supported the Albany Movement)  Laurie Pritchett, the Albany police chief kept police violations of civil rights out of public view, depriving the movement of success.

 September of 1962, James Meredith a black Air Force veteran fought personal battle for civil rights  Turned down for transfer to “Ole Miss” and enlisted the support of the NAACP  Supreme Court upheld Meredith’s claim. Barnett, the Mississippi Governor personally blocked the way to the admission office  A standoff between the governor and the Justice Department took place

 Crowds of white protesters destroyed vehicles and violence erupted all over campus  Two bystanders were killed and hundreds of people were hurt  President Kennedy sent army troops to restore order and Meredith was escorted to class by federal marshalls

 Birmingham’s population 40% black  MLK called the city “the most segregated city in the country”  MLK invited by Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth  King planned boycotts of local stores and attempted integration of churches  Campaign began nonviolently with marches and sit-ins

 City officials declared that marches violated regulation prohibiting parades without a permit  King was arrested as well as other demonstrators  King wrote his “Letter from Birmingham Jail” and was released on bail a week later  King then made the difficult decision to have children participate in the marches  More than 900 children were arrested, high pressure hoses were used and trained attack dogs were used on the demonstrators

 The violence was broadcast to people around the country, even people unsympathetic to the civil rights movement were appalled.  In the end the protesters won, desegregation of city facilities and fairer hiring practices.  The Birmingham marches were a prime example that nonviolent protest was effective