29.2-The Triumphs of a Crusade

Lesson Objective: To understand the freedom rides, freedom summer, and March on Washington

THE FREEDOM RIDES• WHEN? Spring, 1961• WHAT?• Civil Rights “rides” from Washington, DC to New Orleans• Rides traveled through most highly segregated areas of South

• WHO? C.O.R.E. organizes rides• PURPOSE?• Highlight injustice of bus segregation• Attract public & media attention to problem• Force state and / or federal gov’t. to end segregation

• WHAT HAPPENS?• Rides attacked in Deep South (define)• Birmingham, AL is worst: “Bull” Connor

• RESPONSE?• JFK sends federal marshals to protect riders

James Meredith and Ole Miss• University of Mississippi: “Ole Miss”• Ole Miss was segregated, like most Southern

universities• Fall, 1962:• James Meredith given court permission to enroll at Ole

Miss• Gov. Ross Barnett refuses to allow it (see p. 865)

• Response:• JFK orders federal marshals to ensure Meredith’s

enrollment• Q: What event is this similar to?

• Result?• Violence, riots at Ole Miss• Federal marshals stay; ensure Meredith’s enrollment

James Meredith

James Meredith Wounded, 1966

Birmingham • 1963: MLK travels to Birmingham to hold civil

rights meetings & stage nonviolent protests• Police Commissioner: Eugene “Bull” Connor• Connor arrests MLK & other leaders• MLK released, protests continue• Connor responds w/force:• Water cannon• Attack dogs• Clubbings, beatings, etc.• Tear gas

• Event caught on film by mass media• Civil Rights given more nationwide media

attention

Other Events• 1963: JFK orders

Alabama Gov. George Wallace to integrate University of Alabama•Medgar Evers, NAACP

officer, murdered in Jackson, Miss. by Byron de la Beckwith• Beckwith charged,

released due to insufficient evidence• 1994: Beckwith re-

tried, convicted of murder

Gov. George Wallace of Alabama

“And I Say… Segregation Now, Segregation Tomorrow,

and Segregation Forever!”

Gov. George Wallace

The March on Washington •When? August, 1963•Who? • MLK leads effort• 250,000 Civil Rights supporters

•Where? The Washington “Mall”• Purpose?• Pressure Congress to sign a law guaranteeing equal

access to public accommodations• Hopefully gain more national support / media attention

• Highlight: MLK’s “I Have A Dream” Speech• Effect: LBJ signs Civil Rights Act of 1964

“I HAVE A DREAM” SPEECH Washington, D.C. - August, 1963

FREEDOM SUMMERWHEN? Summer, 1964WHO? Robert Moses and SNCCWHERE? Deep South, especially MississippiPURPOSE?

-Increase African-American voter registration in Deep South

-Push Congress towards new voting rights laws-Gain media attention

RESULTS?-Extreme violence from white extremists,

especially KKK-Murder, bombings, intimidation, etc. all used-Did not result in new voting rights laws

Freedom Summer Murder Victims

The Selma Campaign

•WHEN? January, 1965•WHERE? Selma, ALABAMA•WHO? MLK & SCLC• PURPOSE?• Voter registration in Deep South still needed attention• WHY? FREEDOM SUMMER had failed• MLK & SCLC decide to attempt same thing in AL

• Results?• Much of the same (Shooting, beatings, arrests)• SCLC organizes protest march from Selma to

Montgomery, AL• Police violence attracts more media attention

• Final Result? Voting Rights Act of 1965