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Brown v. Board of Education
During the Brown v. Board of Education, there were a series of trials to determine whether segregated schools were constitutional. The final decision deemed that they were unconstitutional, which opposed a previous supreme court ruling that segregation was constitutional. This gave the Civil Rights Movement momentum to move forward and change the lives of thousands of African American children and adults. -
The Murder of Emmett Till
The murder of Emmett Till spread outrage throughout the US. His brutal treatment was known nationwide. Newspapers, radios, all sorts of media was covering his murder and how it lead to civil outrage. Leaving his body of display, his mother wanted to show the world what had become of her son and how his murderers remained unpunished. This gave inspiration to many more people to continue and join into their fight for civil rights. -
Sit-ins
Sit-ins were used as a peaceful protesting tool to help fully integrate segregated facilities. They began with four African American college students in North Carolina sitting at an 'all-white' lunch counter. Four months later, after much effort, they were served at the same counter they were denied months earlier. Sit-ins were used to help desegregate other restaurants, parks, movie theaters and other public facilities throughout the south. -
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Freedom Riders
Freedom Riders were groups of both black and white activists who rode buses into the south to nonviolently test the enforcement of segregation laws. Along the way, many were attacked by angry mobs who prefered to use violence against the activists However, the protests still managed to spread throughout the south. Many joined in to desegregate bus and railway systems as well as many other facilities. -
Martin Luther King Jr. is Arrested
MLK is arrested during a protest in Birmingham, Alabama to protest segregation laws. He was arresting in Birmingham, or what he thought to be the most segregated city in the nation, as they were repeatedly known for defying desegregation laws as well as violence. He was jailed for about a week in the city and argued that he had a right to peacefully protest any unjust laws, such as segregation laws. -
The March on Washington
This one was of the largest peaceful protests of the Civil Rights Movement, with 250,000 people of all ethnic background in attendance. Here, they marched for jobs and freedom. There, many Civil Rights leaders, such as MLK and John Lewis, made speeches that will forever be known. Other leaders made speeches, musicians performed, and people gathered for a whole day and made this march powerful and successful. -
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The Freedom Summer
What became known to be the "Freedom Summer" were various civil rights groups organizing a series of movements to gain the right to register to vote in Mississippi, as Mississippi was the state to have the least amount of African American voters. It was a powerful part of the Civil Rights Movement. The project left an overall positive legacy that eventually led to the "1965 Voting Rights Act." -
The Civil Rights Act of 1964
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a landmark in the Civil Rights Movement. In this Act, it outlawed discrimination of all kinds based off of race, color, religion, or national origin. It also granted the federal government permission, as well as power to fully and completely enforce desegregation laws throughout the country. This was a great achievement and proved that the Movement was making progress. -
Selma to Montgomery Marches
During 3 marches to Montgomery, Alabama for the right to vote, about 600 peaceful protesters were attacked by state troopers with tear gas and clubs and 50 protesters became hospitalized. This became known to be "Bloody Sunday." The second was lead by King, and they passed freely and were lead back to a church. The third march gained the support of 25,000 people and was armed by the National Guard under federal command and they marched up to 10 miles a day until they reached Montgomery. -
Martin Luther King Jr. is shot
Martin Luther King Jr. was standing on a balcony outside of his motel room in Memphis, Tennessee when he was suddenly shot. He was pronounced dead later that same evening after being rushed to the nearby hospital. The shooting was done by James Earl Ray, a troubled man who had previously been in prison and a committed racist. He was arrested was found guilty and put into prison to serve a 99 year sentence.
