The Struggle Intensifies Pages 941 - 946

Sit-Ins Challenge Segregation CORE created the sit-in to protest segregation at lunch counters Participants were often arrested and spent time in jail

The Freedom Rides Supreme Court had expanded its ban on segregation to interstate buses and bus stations Organized by CORE & SNCC to test a Supreme Court decision Were met with violence Violence intensified in Birmingham & Montgomery, AL and Jackson, MS

National Reactions Photographs of the violence horrified the country Attorney General Robert Kennedy sent federal protection for the riders from that point on Justice Dept. sued local communities that didn’t comply with desegregation

Integration at “Ole Miss” James Meredith African American Air Force veteran Applied to the University of Mississippi & was rejected NAACP sued Ole Miss saying Meredith was rejected based on race Supreme Court ruled in Meredith’s favor Crowds protested and Kennedy sent federal marshals to protect Meredith and stop the revolts

Clash in Birmingham Birmingham’s population was 40% African American King called it “the most segregated city in America.” King and Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth planned boycotts of downtown stores Birmingham police commissioner was Eugene “Bull” Connor King was arrested and jailed Wrote his “Letter from Birmingham Jail” to defend his tactics and timing

Clash in Birmingham King decided to allow the youth in Birmingham to join in the nonviolent protests Hundreds were arrested Police used high-pressure fire hoses and police dogs on the demonstrators Television brought the scenes of violence to people across the country Americans were angered “Bull” Connor was removed from office and desegregation was put in place The success at Birmingham proved the effectiveness of nonviolent protest