The Freedom Riders Young African American and white civil rights activists TESTING whether supreme court decisions were being upheld in the South. They weren’t. Young African American and white civil rights activists TESTING whether supreme court decisions were being upheld in the South. They weren’t. Segregated bus routes, terminals- “Let’s test them” Segregated bus routes, terminals- “Let’s test them” Southerners, led by Alabama State Police, viciously beat the Freedom riders Southerners, led by Alabama State Police, viciously beat the Freedom riders The goal was to leave Washington, DC and drive to New Orleans-testing whether laws were being upheld The goal was to leave Washington, DC and drive to New Orleans-testing whether laws were being upheld

Attacks Attacks against the Freedom riders continued through Alabama and into Mississippi Attacks against the Freedom riders continued through Alabama and into Mississippi The Kennedy Administration intervened and worked with the state governors of Alabama and Mississippi-lawlessness was rampant. The Kennedy Administration intervened and worked with the state governors of Alabama and Mississippi-lawlessness was rampant. See page 711 See page 711

President Kennedy and civil rights This violence convinced JFK that a “civil rights act” must be passed This violence convinced JFK that a “civil rights act” must be passed JFK sent federal troops to ensure the university of alabama was being desegregated JFK sent federal troops to ensure the university of alabama was being desegregated “Is this the land of the free?” “Is this the land of the free?” Shortly after JFK’s speech, civil rights activist and World War II veteran, Medger Evers is murdered by a sniper Shortly after JFK’s speech, civil rights activist and World War II veteran, Medger Evers is murdered by a sniper This brought a new militancy to many African Americans This brought a new militancy to many African Americans

Martin Luther King- “I Have a Dream” Martin Luther King, Jr organized a march on Washginton, DC to persuade congress to pass the Civil Rights Act Martin Luther King, Jr organized a march on Washginton, DC to persuade congress to pass the Civil Rights Act people marched including whites(August 28, 1963) people marched including whites(August 28, 1963)

Violence Continues 2 Weeks following the speech, someone threw a bomb into an African American church killing four girls 2 Weeks following the speech, someone threw a bomb into an African American church killing four girls President Kennedy would be murdered two months after that. President Kennedy would be murdered two months after that. New President, Lyndon Johnson, vowed to carry on Kennedy’s civil rights agenda New President, Lyndon Johnson, vowed to carry on Kennedy’s civil rights agenda Civil Rights Act of 1964 passed Civil Rights Act of 1964 passed

Racism in the North De facto segregation-segregation that exists by practice, or tradition De facto segregation-segregation that exists by practice, or tradition De jure segregation-Segregation based on law De jure segregation-Segregation based on law “White Flight” occurred in the Northern Cities- whites left to the suburbs “White Flight” occurred in the Northern Cities- whites left to the suburbs