MAJOR EVENTS OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS
MOVEMENT
BROWN VS. BOARD OF EDUCATION - 1954
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Linda Brown wanted to
attend an all-white school
that was closer to her
house than be forced to
og to the all-black school.
Supreme court overruled
their Plessy v. Ferguson
decision.
They ruled that «seperate
educational facilities are
inherently unequal»
EMMITT TILL MURDER – 1955 (MISSISSIPPI)
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14year old Chicagovisiting relatives.
Whistled at a white
woman.
Killed for a cultural
violation.
Pictures of body printed in
«Jet» magazine.
Murders found not-guilty,
but later gave details in a
magazine interview of
how they killed Emmitt.
MONTGOMERY BUS BOYCOTT - 1956
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Rosa Parks was arrested for
refusing to give up her seat to a
white man.
Martin Luther King, emerged as
a nationally-recognized leader,
organized the Montgomery Bus
Boycott.
Black residents agreed not to
use the buses, a move which
would deprive the bus company
of 65% of its income.
DESEGREGATION AT LITTLE ROCK HIGH SCHOOL
– ARKANSAS 1957
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Little Rock Central High School was to begin the 1957
year desegrated. On September 3 when nine black
students tried to enter the school, they were prevented
from doing so by the National Guardsmen acting on the
orders of the Arkansas state governor.
On September 23, the group of nine students returned
to Central High School but were prevented from
attending school by a mob of 1000 townspeople.
Finally, Presiedent Eisenhower ordered 1000
paratroopers and 10000 National Guardsmen to Little
Rock, and on September 25, Central High School was
desegregated
DESEGREDATION AT LITTLE ROCK HIGH SCHOOL
– ARKANSAS 1957
SIT-IN CAMPAIGNS - 1960
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After having been refused service at the lunch counter
of a Woolworth’s in Greensboro, North Carolina, Joseph
McNeill, a black college student, returned the next day
with three classmates to sit at the counter until they
were served.
They were not served. The four students returned to the
lunch counter each day.
When an article in the New York Times drew attention to
the students’ protest, they were joined by more
students, both black and white, and students across the
nation were inspired to launch similar protests.
SIT-IN CAMPAIGNS - 1960
FREEDOM RIDERS - 1961
Bus loads of people started a cross-country
campaign to try to end the segregation of bus
terminals
 Groups of black and white students travelled on
buses through the southern states choosing to
sit where they pleased.
 At many stops along the way the group
encountered violence but they continued riding
the buses.
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FREEDOM RIDERS - 1961
UNIVERISTY OF MISSISSIPPI RIOT - 1962
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President Kennedy ordered
Federal Marshals to escort
James Meredith, the first
black student to enroll at the
University of Mississippi.
A riot broke out before the
National Guard could arrive to
reinforce the marshals.
Two people were killed
Meredith was admitted, and
later became the first black
student to graduate from the
university
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA - 1963
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Birmingham, Alabama was one of the most segregated cities
in the 1960s.
Public Safety Commissioner «Bull» Connor didn’t apologize
for his racist comments and actions by his policemen
During a peaceful protest in 1963, hundreds of
demonstrators were fined and imprisoned. The police broke
up the protest using high-pressure fire hoses and deputies
with police dogs.
These images were broadcast across the country and helped
the Civil Rights movement gain sympathy.
https://youtu.be/hPrHwmiUMH0
bull connor
MARCH ON WASHINGTON D.C - 1963
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Martin Luther King
delivered the «I Have a
Dream» speech.
¼ million attended
At the time, it was the
largest gathering ever in
Washington D.C.
CIVIL RIGHTS ACT - 1964
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Using the memory of
recently assassinated
John F. Kennedy,
President Johnson
helped push these new
laws through Congress
Outlawed segregation
in:
Public places
Schools
Employment