1. The Civil Rights in full force
From Sit ins to the march on DC
The Civil Rights in full force

2. It started with Sit-ins
4 men sat in a drugstore to eat, and the waiter refused to serve them, so they stayed there until closing
Said they didn’t like being denied dignity and respect
Due to this, businesses either had to deal with people just sitting in there, or boycotts costing them money, and over time they gave in
Nashville, because of this, became the first major southern city to integrate it’s public facilities

3. Students begin to make a difference
Ella Baker, a leader with the SCLC helped the students form the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee
There they trained students in civil disobedience, how to break laws that were unjust
Through that they participated in direct action throughout the South

4. Freedom riders Targeted the interstate bus system
Seven blacks and 6 whites boarded two busses in DC headed south, and a white mob attacked the freedom riders, also throwing a firebomb
Robert Kennedy sent in the federal marshals, but Jackson, Miss officials arrested the riders and they suffered abuse while in jail
Finally in 1962 congress said all busses and bus terminals involved in interstate travel must be integrated

5. Taking Aim at the most segregated city
Virtually no public facility allowed integration
Between 1956 and 1963 there were 18 unsolved bombings in black neighborhoods
Also attacked Jewish communities
SCLC teamed up with local activists to take it on

6. MLK is all about nonviolence
Protests began April 3rd, 1963
MLK knew he would be arrested and couldn’t post bail, but demonstrated and was arrested anyways
Sent the letter from Jail
Said that people have a moral obligation to disobey unjust laws
Said he has never engaged in a direct-action campaign that was well-timed

7. Things really pick up
May 2nd, over 1,000 youths marched to the city center and the city’s public safety commissioner had most of them arrested
May 3rd, tried it again, police barricaded them in and used attack dogs on those who tried to leave
National media led to sympathy for the movement and at the urging of local business leaders, on may 10th the Birmingham accord was signed integrating all areas in 90 days
Not without backlash

9. The March on Washington
At the time, the largest march public gathering ever held in the US, 250,000 people with 60,000 white people as well
Included songs, poems, speeches, and of course… the MLK I have a Dream Speech