1. The Voting Rights Fight

2. Question?
What is important about voting?

3. Before 1965
Before 1965, a system of discrimination kept African Americans from voting
Intimidation, arrests, beatings
White Citizens Councils
Evictions, firings, boycotts, discrimination
If this didn’t work, KKK
Cross-burning, beatings, rapes, church bombings, murders, lynching
African Americans called it “terrorism”, whites called it “protecting Southern Heritage”

4. Long, hard process Application was four pages long
Answer honestly, info went to KKK and WCC (White Citizen’s Council)
Name printed in the local paper
Employers, landlords, bank loan officers knew of the big event
“Citizenship schools” led to more than 100 tests

5. Freedom Summer 1964 A new movement to register black voters
Organized by 1,000 SNCC (Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee) volunteers, including many whites
“We think the key is in the vote.”
By the end of summer, 4 dead, 80 beaten, dozens of churches burned
Congress took no action

6. The Selma March 1965
More than 50% of population was black, less than 10% registered to vote
More than 2,000 demonstrators were arrested in one month
Jim Clark another “Bull” Connor (hoses, dogs)
“Bloody Sunday”
February—Jimmie Lee Jackson was killed for demonstrating

7. Dr. King organized a 50 mile march from Selma to Montgomery on March 7.

8. Power of TV That evening, TV coverage interrupted programs
The news showed tear gas and police on horses with clubs and whips
President Johnson asked Congress to pass the Voting Rights Act
Marchers kept on towards Montgomery with help of federal troops
May 1965, Voting Rights Act passed
Designed to enforce the 15th Amendment
No more literacy tests
In Selma, registered African America voters went from 10% in 1964 to more than 60% in 1968