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Montgomery Bus Boycott
The Montgomery Bus Boycott was a civil rights protest against segregated seating on city buses. This protest was led by MLK Jr., a young pastor at the time. The boycott was considered to be the first large-scale U.S. demonstration against segregation. Eventually, Montgomery was forced to integrate it's bus system. Four days before the boycott began, Rosa Parks was arrested and fined for not giving up her bus seat to a white man. -
Little Rock 9
The Little Rock 9 was a group of 9 African-American students that integrated Central High School. The students were Ernest Green, Melba Pattillo Beals, Elizabeth Eckford, Minnijean Brown, Thelma Mothershed, Gloria Ray, Terrence Roberts, Jefferson Thomas, and Carlotta Walls. On the first day of school, Governor Orval Faubus ordered the National Guard to keep the students from entering the school. Pres. Eisenhower sent federal troops to escort the Little Rock 9 into the school building. -
Greensboro Sit-ins
The Greensboro was a civil protest in which African-Americans sat down at a segregated Woolworth's lunch counter, despite being denied service. This movement spread quickly to other college towns. Most of the protesters were arrested for trespassing, disorderly conduct, or disturbing the peace. Many establishments were forced to change their segregationist policies. -
King's March
King's March was a massive protest march in which 250,000 gathered in front of Lincoln Memorial. This march is also called the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. This march is where MLK gave his iconic speech ''I Have a Dream''. The march was supposed to draw attention toward challenges faced by African-Americans. -
The Selma to Montgomery March
The Selma to Montgomery March was an effort to register black voters in the South. Protesters waled a 52-mile route from Selma to Montgomery. When they got to Montgomery, they were faced by local authorities and white vigilante groups. However, the protesters were under the protection of the National Guard. The march raised awareness and the need for a National Voting Rights Act. -
The Watts Riot
The Watts Riot broke out August 11, 1965 in the predominantly black neighborhood of Watts in L.A. It lasted for six days and resulted in 34 deaths, 1,032 injuries, and 4,000 arrests. About 34,000 people were involved in the riot and there was a total of about $40 million in property damage. The riot began when police officers were arresting a black man after he failed a sobriety test, and the brother of the driver tried to defend him. One thing led to another, and a riot began. -
Newark Riots (1967)
The Newark Riot began on July 12, 1967 and ended on July 17,1967. The riot took place in Newark, New Jersey and was caused by a white police officer beating an unarmed black man. 26 people were killed, 750 were injured, and about 1,000 were jailed. Property damage exceeded 10 million dollars. -
Memphis Sanitation Workers Strike
This strike began when two black sanitation workers were killed due to a malfunction on the truck. Workers began to protest over unfair wages, unsafe working conditions, and the city refusing to recognize the sanitation worker's union.The workers gained the help of Martin Luther King Jr., who was a prominent civil-rights leader. More than 1,000 workers went on strike. -
L.A. Riots (1992)
This riot was caused by the release of a video that showed 4 LAPD officers beating an unarmed black motorist, Rodney King. When the officers were not found guilty of any kind of criminal offense, the riots began. This led to several days of violence, looting, and arson. By May 3rd, thousands of National Guardsmen and federal troops curbed the uprising. The riots left more than 60 dead and produced $1 billion in property damage. -
Ferguson Mo. 2014
This riot was caused by the deadly shooting of an unarmed black teenager named Michael Brown in August 4, 2014. The teenager was shot by white police officer, Darren Wilson. On November 24, 2014, a prosecutor announced that a grand jury decided not to indict Darren Wilson. This set off a series of several protests across the country. -
2015 Baltimore Protests
This riot was caused by the hospitalization and death of Freddie Gray. Gray was in police custody when he had to go to the hospital for a severe spinal cord injury. After the young man's funeral, the riots began. They ended on May 3rd, 2015 and resulted in about 344 deaths. Arson, burglaries, and homicide present during the riot.
