Chapter 28 Section 2 The Civil Rights Movement Riddlebarger Freedom Now! Chapter 28 Section 2 The Civil Rights Movement Riddlebarger

Nonviolence Brainstorm what you think the meaning of nonviolence is. “Nonviolence is not a garment to be put on and off at will. Its seat is in the heart, and it must be an inseparable part of our being. “ Gandhi

History of nonviolence Many of the civil rights tactics (strategies) were based upon those of Mohandas Gandhi. The leader of the Indian independence movement organized activities in which protesters were willing to suffer harm instead of inflicting it. Nonviolent approach would expose injustice & force those in power to change.

Nonviolence and Civil Rights Movement Gandhi believed non-violent resistance was the best way to achieve change when others held most of the power Martin Luther King of SCLC and James Farmer of CORE share Gandhi’s views.

The Sit-In Movement Feb. 1, 1960: 4 college students, after being refused service at a lunch counter because of their race, refuse to leave, or sit-in the rest of the day. They return with more and more friends and followers. This idea spreads to other cities over the next 2 months. In some cases, white on-lookers attacked the protesters (some were white)

Success of Sit-ins Use of direct non-violent confrontation Change in tactics Despite the violence, sit-ins are generally successful in getting businesses to change their practices. Some chain stores order nationwide integration of their lunch counters. Sit-ins show a growing impatience in the slow pace of change nationwide. Sit-in leaders form Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) Will conduct other non-violent protests.

Freedom Rides Success of sit-ins inspires CORE to plan its own nonviolent action in 1961 Supreme Court order of 1960 ordering all interstate bus stations to be fully integrated wasn’t being enforced. To draw attention to the situation, CORE sent a group of Freedom Riders on a bus trip through the South.

Freedom Riders At each stop, they would attempt to use whites-only facilities At first, only mild harassment Later, bus firebombed and Riders beaten in Alabama Another attack has Riders beaten by baseball bats and lead pipes

Federal Intervention SNCC leaders refuse to give into violence. U.S. Attorney General Robert Kennedy arranges for police protection for Riders. When bus reaches Montgomery, Alabama, protection disappears. Riders attacked by mob. Kennedy sends Federal marshals to protect Riders arrested in Jackson, MS, for using white facilities. Sept. 1961: ICC issues new rules enforcing integration of bus facilities.

Integrating Higher Education NAACP pushes ahead with campaign for school segregation Expands efforts to colleges Biggest trouble is University of Mississippi James Meredith needs Federal marshals and troops to ensure his safety.

Albany Movement Albany, Georgia will be set back in Civil Rights Movement Demonstrations against lack of integration of bus facilities Sit-ins Martin Luther King and SCLC come in Plan to fill jails as protestors arrested & force city to negotiate King arrested but released by police chief Movement fails & King leaves Important lessons learned

Birmingham Campaign Next target is strict segregation of Birmingham Use sit-ins and marches MLK arrested & jailed “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” Begin using children in demonstrations Fire hoses used on demonstrators Scenes shown on TV across country City forced to negotiate and give in to some of King’s demands

Birmingham 1963

JFK Responds President Kennedy goes public announcing that he will ask Congress for legislation to end segregation.

Assassination of Medgar Evers Mississippi NAACP leader shot in front yard hours after JFK gives speech asking for Civil Rights legislation No conviction for nearly 30 years

March on Washington To build support for Civil Rights bill, huge march on capital planned for August 1963 The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom Largest civil rights demonstration in U.S. history.

“I Have A Dream”

Passing the Civil Rights Act March on Washington builds on Kennedy’s proposal for Civil Rights legislation Bomb blast in Birmingham in September 1963 kills 4 young black girls Nov. 1963: JFK killed Lyndon Johnson, the new president is committed to Civil Rights law Civil Rights Act of 1964 banned discrimination in employment & public accommodations.

Review What are sit-ins and freedom rides & why were they important in the 1960’s? 2. How was the integration of higher education achieved in the South? 3. What role did Albany, Georgia & Birmingham, Alabama play in the history of civil rights? 4. What concerns and events led to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964?