JFK & Civil Rights JFK & Civil Rights

Freedom Rides- 1961 an interracial group of an interracial group of

bus riders set out to test a bus riders set out to test a new law outlawing new law outlawing segregation in segregation in transportation terminals. transportation terminals.

The rides began in The rides began in Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C.

The planned route would The planned route would have the riders arriving in have the riders arriving in New Orleans, Louisiana, New Orleans, Louisiana, to celebrate the May 17th to celebrate the May 17th anniversary of the Brown anniversary of the Brown v. Board decision. v. Board decision.

Freedom Rides Route

Just outside of Anniston, Alabama, a mob attacked and fire-bombed one bus. Only the quick intervention of state safety officer saved the lives of the riders.

DON’T WRITE: In Anniston, Alabama, a white mob awaited the arrival of the first bus bearing the Freedom Riders at the Greyhound station.  As it arrived, they attacked the bus with iron pipes and baseball bats and slashed its tires.  The terrified bus driver hastily drove out of the station, but the punctured tires forced the bus to pull off the road in a rural area outside of Anniston. The white mob who pursued the bus, fire bombed it and held the doors shut preventing riders from exiting the burning bus. Finally an undercover policeman drew his gun, and forced the doors to be opened. The mob pulled the Freedom Riders off the bus and beat them with iron pipes. The bus became completely engulfed in flames, and was completely destroyed. 

The other bus managed to arrive in Birmingham, only to be greeted by an angry gang who beat the Freedom Riders.

DON’T WRITE:DON’T WRITE:

In Birmingham, an FBI informant in the Klan learned of a detailed plan in which Police Chief Bull Conner had agreed to give the Klan 15 minutes after the bus arrived to beat the riders before local police would arrive.  The plan was reported to the FBI headquarters, but no action was taken. The Trailways station was filled with Klansmen and reporters (including Howard K. Smith). When the Freedom Riders exited the bus, they were beaten by the mob with baseball bats, iron pipes and bicycle chains, and then, battered and bleeding, they were arrested. White Freedom Riders were particularly singled out for frenzied beatings. Two riders were hospitalized, including white Freedom Rider Jim Peck with 51 stitches in his head.

Jim Zwerg

On May 21, 1961, the surviving contingent of Riders took a bus from Birmingham to Montgomery, Alabama, protected by a contingent of the Alabama State Highway Patrol.  However, when they reached the Montgomery city limits, the Highway Patrol abandoned them.  At the bus station, a large white mob was waiting with baseball bats and iron pipes. The local police allowed them to viciously beat the Freedom Riders uninterrupted. There is a famous picture of Jim Zwerg with blood running all down his suit. Justice Department official Seigenthaler was beaten and left unconscious lying in the street. Ambulances, manned by white attendants, refused to take the wounded to the hospital. Brave local blacks finally rescued them. A number of the Freedom Riders were hospitalized. 

1962- integration of Ole Miss

Sep. 1962- James Sep. 1962- James Meredith is barred Meredith is barred from becoming the 1from becoming the 1stst black student to enrollblack student to enroll

Sep.-Oct. 1962- Sep.-Oct. 1962- Supreme Court Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black Justice Hugo Black orders him admitted orders him admitted

http://player.discoveryeducation.com/index.cfm?guidAssetId=9D23F187-CE1C-4E97-A1C0-8D51748F5E13&blnFromSearch=1&productcode=US

George WallaceGeorge Wallace Jan. 1963- “I draw the Jan. 1963- “I draw the

line in the dust and line in the dust and toss the gauntlet toss the gauntlet before the feet of before the feet of tyranny, and I say tyranny, and I say segregation now, segregation now, segregation segregation tomorrow, tomorrow, segregation forever.” segregation forever.”

June 1963- stands in June 1963- stands in the schoolhouse the schoolhouse doors of the Univ. of doors of the Univ. of AL AL

National Guard put National Guard put under Pres.’s control under Pres.’s control & Univ. of AL forced & Univ. of AL forced to integrate (to integrate (James James Hood & Vivian MaloneHood & Vivian Malone))

http://www.history.com/audio/segregationist-george-wallace-gives-press-conference#segregationist-george-wallace-gives-press-conference

http://www.history.com/videos/george-wallace-opposes-intergration#george-wallace-opposes-intergration

Bombingham Since Since Brown v. BoardBrown v. Board, there , there

had been 40 bombs set off in had been 40 bombs set off in Alabama, most in B’ham.Alabama, most in B’ham.

Blacks still did not have equal Blacks still did not have equal access to lunch counters, rest access to lunch counters, rest rooms, and drinking fountains;rooms, and drinking fountains; 40 percent of the population, but 40 percent of the population, but

no black clerks, policemen or no black clerks, policemen or firemen. firemen.

responded to a 1962 federal responded to a 1962 federal court desegregation order by court desegregation order by closing down more that a closing down more that a hundred playgrounds, swimming hundred playgrounds, swimming pools and parks; rather than pools and parks; rather than accept interracial sports, it lost accept interracial sports, it lost its minor league baseball team. its minor league baseball team.

Eugene “Bull” Connor

Letter from a B’ham Jail*DON’T WRITE!*

King’s men were in low spirits when they sat in Room 30 of the Gaston King’s men were in low spirits when they sat in Room 30 of the Gaston Motel arguing until the early hours of Good Friday morning. Martin Luther Motel arguing until the early hours of Good Friday morning. Martin Luther King, Sr., the stern minister of Atlanta’s most prominent black congregation, King, Sr., the stern minister of Atlanta’s most prominent black congregation, urged his son to obey the injunction, stay out of jail and raise money. King urged his son to obey the injunction, stay out of jail and raise money. King said nothing. At length, he went silently into the bedroom and emerged in a said nothing. At length, he went silently into the bedroom and emerged in a work shirt, blue jeans, and “clodhopper” walking shoes. He was ready for work shirt, blue jeans, and “clodhopper” walking shoes. He was ready for jail. “There he goes. Just like Jesus,” cried black onlookers as he led a jail. “There he goes. Just like Jesus,” cried black onlookers as he led a small group down Birmingham’s Fifth Avenue. Police manhandled him into small group down Birmingham’s Fifth Avenue. Police manhandled him into a paddy wagon. Ralph Abernathy and 50 others were arrested, but King a paddy wagon. Ralph Abernathy and 50 others were arrested, but King was put in solitary; in “the hole.” Lying on his metal bed, the only light a ray was put in solitary; in “the hole.” Lying on his metal bed, the only light a ray of spring sun filtering through prison bars far above, King was “in a of spring sun filtering through prison bars far above, King was “in a nightmare of despair.” On April 16, his despair turned to anger. In a nightmare of despair.” On April 16, his despair turned to anger. In a newspaper smuggled into jail, he read a denunciation of him and his newspaper smuggled into jail, he read a denunciation of him and his movement by eight white clergymen, led by Episcopal Bishop C.C. Jones movement by eight white clergymen, led by Episcopal Bishop C.C. Jones Carpenter. They condemned him as an outside agitator, his campaign as Carpenter. They condemned him as an outside agitator, his campaign as unwise and untimely and civil disobedience as unjustified because it incited unwise and untimely and civil disobedience as unjustified because it incited hatred and violence. King began writing furiously, in the margins all over hatred and violence. King began writing furiously, in the margins all over the newspaper, what would become the 20-page “Letter from Birmingham the newspaper, what would become the 20-page “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” one of the enduring documents of the American black experience, Jail.” one of the enduring documents of the American black experience, modern Christianity and freedom movements everywhere. modern Christianity and freedom movements everywhere.

Quotes from the letterQuotes from the letter*don’t write**don’t write*

Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny.

We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed. Frankly, I have yet to engage in a direct action campaign that was "well timed" in the view of those who have not suffered unduly from the disease of segregation. For years now I have heard the word "Wait!" It rings in the ear of every Negro with piercing familiarity. This "Wait" has almost always meant “Never." We must come to see, with one of our distinguished jurists, that "justice too long delayed is justice denied."

The Children’s Crusade *May 1963“Project C”

James Bevel (with some hesitation from James Bevel (with some hesitation from MLK) launches his “D-Day” youth marchMLK) launches his “D-Day” youth march

900 elementary & junior high school 900 elementary & junior high school students arrested, along with adultsstudents arrested, along with adults

Bull Connor ordered the firemen to “fire” Bull Connor ordered the firemen to “fire” the hoses point blank range at the the hoses point blank range at the children/adults and the police to let the children/adults and the police to let the dogs loose on them.dogs loose on them.

Would you be willing go to jail to challenge an unjust law?

Would you let your child go to jail in an effort to overturn an unjust law?

Role PlayRole Play TeenagerYou want to participate in the meetings at the 16th Street Baptist

Church. Students your age are leaving school everyday to be trained by James Bevel and other leaders including Dr. Martin Luther King. They are training students in the philosophy of nonviolence. You want to be a part of the movement to desegregate Birmingham. School is not more important than freedom!

ParentYou do not want your son or daughter to go to these meetings because

it is too dangerous. Furthermore, you forbid them to leave school in the middle of the day. You are afraid s/he will get arrested and you are worried about how s/he will be treated by the police. You know the police have used dogs to intimidate protestors. You are also aware that the SCLC does not have enough money to post bail for your daughter/son. Your family does not have the money to post bail.

Medgar Evers Medgar Evers murdered June 1963murdered June 1963

American black civil-rights American black civil-rights activist killed in front of his activist killed in front of his home in Mississippihome in Mississippi

his murder received national his murder received national attention and made him a attention and made him a martyr to the cause of the civil martyr to the cause of the civil rights movement.rights movement.

Byron de La Beckwith, a white Byron de La Beckwith, a white segregationist, was charged segregationist, was charged with the murder. with the murder. Don’t write: He was set free in Don’t write: He was set free in

1964 after two trials resulted in 1964 after two trials resulted in hung juries but was convicted in a hung juries but was convicted in a third trial held in 1994. Beckwith third trial held in 1994. Beckwith was given a life sentence, and in was given a life sentence, and in 2001 he died in prison.2001 he died in prison.

BeckwithMedgar Evers

March on Washington and the March on Washington and the I Have a Dream speechI Have a Dream speech

August 1963August 1963

http://www.history.com/videos/martin-luther-king-jr-leads-the-march-on-washington#martin-luther-king-jr-leads-the-march-on-washington

http://www.mlkonline.net/sounds.html

*16*16thth Street Baptist Church bombing* Street Baptist Church bombing*Birmingham, AlabamaBirmingham, Alabama Sept. 1963Sept. 1963

Thomas Blanton, Bobby Cherry and Robert Chambliss, members of the KKK, planted 19 sticks of dynamite outside the basement of the church.

The bombs exploded, killing four young girls and injuring 22 others.  DON’T WRITE BELOW PART Thomas Blanton, Jr. (1938–)

was convicted in 2001 of murder

Bobby Frank Cherry (1930 –2004) was convicted of murder in 2002

Robert Chambliss (1904 – 1985) was convicted in 1977 of murder for his role as conspirator 11

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I Have a Dream too! Part II Have a Dream too! Part I

Directions: Create your own "I Have a Dream Too!" speech by filling in the blanksDirections: Create your own "I Have a Dream Too!" speech by filling in the blanks

I have a dream that one day this nation will ____________________________________I have a dream that one day this nation will ____________________________________

I have a dream that one day _________________________________________________I have a dream that one day _________________________________________________

I have a dream that one day _________________________________________________I have a dream that one day _________________________________________________

I have a dream that ________________________________________________________I have a dream that ________________________________________________________

I have a dream today.I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day _________________________________________________I have a dream that one day _________________________________________________

I have a dream today.I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day _________________________________________________I have a dream that one day _________________________________________________

This is my hope and faith. With this faith we will be able to _______________________This is my hope and faith. With this faith we will be able to _______________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

This will be the day when __________________________________________________This will be the day when __________________________________________________   When we let freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from When we let freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from

every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing the words of the old Negro spiritual, "Free at last! Free at last! Thank join hands and sing the words of the old Negro spiritual, "Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"God Almighty, we are free at last!"

I have a Dream too! Part III have a Dream too! Part II

Using your Part I, create a poster with Using your Part I, create a poster with images and words to depict your dreams.images and words to depict your dreams.Use 11 x 17 piece of paper Use 11 x 17 piece of paper

(I have the 11 x 17 paper)(I have the 11 x 17 paper)On the left side of the paper, attach your Part On the left side of the paper, attach your Part

I info. On the right side of your paper, attach I info. On the right side of your paper, attach pictures & words or draw the images & wordspictures & words or draw the images & wordsEverything should be on one side of the paper!Everything should be on one side of the paper!

Be colorful and creative (I have colored Be colorful and creative (I have colored paper)paper)

DUE by Friday (April 2DUE by Friday (April 2ndnd)!)!