1. The Movement Gains Ground
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The Movement Gains Ground

2. Objectives
Describe the sit ins, freedom rides and the actions of James Meredith in the early 1960s.
Explain how the protests at Birmingham and the march on Washington were linked to the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Summarize the provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

3. Sit In Movement Discrimination persisted after Brown decision
Greensboro, NC (February 1960): beginning of sit in movement at a Woolworth’s Counter
Student participation
Sparked sit ins across country
Creation of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) April 1960

6. Freedom Rides
Boynton vs. Virginia= interstate bus segregation is illegal
CORE wanted to challenge system
Spring 1961= 2 buses traveled from Washington DC to Jackson, Mississippi and violated Jim Crow laws
Bomb thrown on board in Anniston, Alabama and riders attacked in Birmingham
New president= JFK ordered protection for the Riders the rest of the way

7. James Meredith
1962 Court case ordered desegregation of University of Mississippi (Ole Miss)
James Meredith backed by the NAACP
Gov. Ross Barnett focused on maintaining segregation
AG sent federal marshals to protect Meredith and escort him to the registrar’s office
Riot erupted on campus 160 injured and 2 dead

9. Birmingham Campaign
Birmingham, Alabama= most segregated city in US 1963
SCLC focused attention there with marches and sit ins
MLK arrested and wrote “Letter from a Birmingham Jail”
Blacks can no longer wait for equality!
Protest unjust laws!
Issues heightened when police dogs and fire hoses turned on peaceful protestors
Regular Americans= disgusted

11. Civil Rights Act of 1964 JFK called for a new civil rights bill
200,000+ participated in the March on Washington to promote its passage
SCLC, NAACP, SNCC
MLK’s “I Have a Dream Speech” delivered at march

13. Civil Rights Act of 1964
JFK assassinated in Nov. 1964 new president, Lyndon Johnson pushed for the bill’s passage
Civil Rights Act of 1964= landmark legislation!
Banned segregation in public accommodations
Federal government could compel school desegregation
Prosecute violators of civil rights
Outlawed discrimination in employment because of race, color, sex or national origin