Civil Rights Timeline

  • Montgomery Bus Boycott

    Montgomery Bus Boycott
    Led by Martin Luther King Jr. where they refused to ride the bus for over a year.
  • Little Rock Nine

    Little Rock Nine
    Nine African American Students attended Little Rock Central High School. They were met by mobs, when they returned they were protected by U.S. soldiers.
  • Boynton v. Virginia

    Boynton v. Virginia
    Banned segregated busses.
  • Greensboro Sit Ins

    Greensboro Sit Ins
    The Greensboro Four, African American Student, began the sit in movement that lasted for many weeks. And grew to different cities around the country.
  • New Orleans School Integration

    New Orleans School Integration
    Six year old Ruby Bridges had to be escorted to her school everyday, and was insulted and mocked by others.
  • Freedom Rides

    Freedom Rides
    African Americans and Whites boarded a bus in protest of segregated buses, and were firebombed in South Carolina, the riders were replaced every time they were beaten or arrested.
  • Birmingham Demonstrations

    Birmingham Demonstrations
    African Americans made many non violent sit-ins and protests. Many were arrested, eventually they were beaten violently and gained national attention.
  • Children’s March in Birmingham

    Children’s March in Birmingham
    Many kids skipped school for a non violent march and were met by police with dogs and fire hoses attacking them.
  • March on Washington

    March on Washington
    Peaceful March to protest civil rights abuse and discrimination. 250,000 people listened to the “I Have A Dream” speech.
  • Baptist Church Bombing

    Baptist Church Bombing
    Cooper released a bomb on 16th Street Baptist Church and killed four African American little girls.
  • Assassination of Malcolm X

    Assassination of Malcolm X
    He was killed while lecturing. But his speeches and ideas helped develop the civil rights movement.
  • Selma March

    Selma March
    Martin Luther King led many marches; the first two were met by guardsmen and some violence, but the third Kennedy sent protection for them.
  • Watts Riot

    Watts Riot
    Confrontation between Watts police and African American residents. Resulted in 34 deaths, over 1,000 injuries, and $40 million in damage.
  • Black Panther Party Founded

    Black Panther Party Founded
    After Malcolm X was assassinated they were founded.
  • National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders

    National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders
    Investigates the violent disorders that had erupted in several U.S. cities.
  • Brown v. Board of Education

    Brown v. Board of Education
    Racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional.
  • Loving v. Virginia

    Loving v. Virginia
    Declared Virginia statutes prohibiting interracial marriage unlawful. After white man Richard Loving and Mildred Jeter, a mixed woman, had pleaded guilty and were sentenced to prison.
  • Detroit Riot

    Detroit Riot
    Violent encounters between black community and police. 43 deaths, 7,000 arrests, 1,000 burned buildings.
  • Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.

    Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.
    Killed by a sniper while on the balcony at a motel in Memphis. His death inspired many, but the movements started shifting away from nonviolent tactics.