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Civil Rights Activity
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Brown vs Board of Education
Linda Brown's father sued the board of education on the basis that his daughter had to go miles away to attend her all black elementary school when there was a white school a few blocks away. This case went to the supreme court, when the chief the chief justice suddenly dies. The newly appointed Earl Warren believed the decision should be unanimous and the decision was to desegregate schools. This lead to heavy protest, but was a turning event in civil rights history. -
Montgomery Bus Boycott
Rosa Parks decision to not give up her seat to a white person brought the Montgomery Bus Boycott resulting in the supreme courts decision to desegregate buses in Montgomery. After Rosa Parks decision 40,000 African Americans decided not to go on buses for 400 days. This lead to heavy economic losses, and is often regarded as the first true civil defiance, -
The Little Rock Nine
The Little Rock Nine were the first African Americans to integrate a high school in the south. Happening after Brown vs Board of Education, and was met by mass protests. Even leading to President Eisenhower having to send in federal troops for the first time since reconstruction. In the end all public high schools in Arkansas were closed and all white people went to private schools, they were later reopened after another supreme court decision. -
Sit-ins
Four African American college freshman cam to a segregated diner and sat at the white side of the diner and asked to be served. They continued to come from opening to closing everyday. On the sixth day the owner decided that they would renegotiate the policies but it was only a minor change. Two months later the sit-ins continued, this lead to more hard line policies in the city, leading to the students having a full boycott, six-months later from the first sit-in they were finally served. -
Freedom Riders
After the supreme court decision to integrate buses, freedom buses became active. The action of the buses was to test if the bus centers were actually integrated, by going into the white section wait time. This in end resulted in firebombs, and mobs which lead to a state action to imprison the riders. In the end the ICC made announcement to rule that the facilities had to be integrated victory for CORE and James Farmer behind this action. -
Demonstration in Birmingham
Birmingham demonstration were lead by Dr.King, after many parks and other facilities closed down to avoid desegregating. Civil rights leaders organized them and they began to increase in frequency and size. This lead to violence from people and the police, even arresting Dr.King on Good Friday. In the end this lead to Dr.Kings motel and brother's home being bombed, President Kennedy siding his vote with desegregation, and big departments desegregation. -
March on Washington
March on Washington was a massive protest happening in DC, lead by Dr.King. It had the largest crowds in any civil rights demonstration with the goal of equality and jobs. Its main goal was the passage of Kennedy's civil rights bills and was a massive success.