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Sit-ins
The practice of sit-ins would include a normally segregated person sitting in place in a diner they weren’t supposed to be until they were served. The most famous of these was a sit-in organized by CORE which took place in Jack Spratt Coffee House in Chicago. A lot of the people who participated in sit-ins were harassed and even sent to jail. -
Freedom Rides
Freedom Riders were civil rights activists who rode interstate buses into the segregated southern United States in 1961. This was to challenge to Boynton Vs. Virginia court case. These rides were organized by CORE and SNCC. A freedom bus that arrived in Anniston Alabama was brutally attacked by a white mob. The bus was set on fire and escaping passengers were beaten. Freedom rides still continued after this. -
Integration at Ole Miss
An African American man named James Meredith applied for an all white university in Mississippi known as Ole Miss. The university rejected his application but the NAACP fought on his behalf and he was allowed in. When James tried to get into the admissions office, the Mississippi governor Barnett blocked his way, which lead to violence erupting and a conflict between Barnett and the Justice Department. This conflict ended when President Kennedy sent federal Marshall to protect James -
Birmingham
Martin Luther King stated a peaceful march in Birmingham Alabama. He was ordered to stop by the officials, he didn’t leading to him being arrested. When King was freed, the marches continued. Violence erupted as police attacked the protestors with hoses, dogs and clubs. -
March on Washington
To bring attention to Kennedy’s civil rights bill a march was started in Washington D.C. The March had over 200,000 attendees and was very civil, peaceful and orderly. Dr. Martin Luther King jr. delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech there. The march was a success. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
President Johnson took over charge of the Civil rights bill after Kennedy was assassinated. The house passed the bill, but opponents used a technique know as filibuster to try and stop it. Opponents took the floor and refused to stop talking. Johnson then countered with a cloture, which was a vote to limit the debate and begin the ultimate vote. The senate voted for cloture and the bill was passed.
