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Chapter 21 – 2. The Triumphs of a Crusade. The Freedom Riders. CORE (Congress On Racial Equality) members charter 2 buses to take riders through the south to test the Supreme Court’s decision on banning segregation on interstate buses.
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Chapter 21 – 2 The Triumphs of a Crusade
The Freedom Riders • CORE (Congress On Racial Equality) members charter 2 buses to take riders through the south to test the Supreme Court’s decision on banning segregation on interstate buses. • These riders, known as Freedom Riders, hope to provoke a violent reaction that would force the Kennedy administration to enforce the laws.
The Freedom Riders • At the Alabama state line, white racists boarded one of the buses. • Armed with brass knuckles, chains, and guns, these racist began beating the riders, including white activists, who tries to intervene. • Riders managed to go on. • Although Alabama officials promised that the riders would be protected, they did nothing.
The Freedom Riders • The violence provoked the response the riders wanted. TV crews and newspapers reported on the beatings. • Kennedy arranged to give the riders the protection they needed. The Justice Department sent 400 Federal Marshalls to Alabama.
Integrating ‘Ole Miss’ • James Meredith, a black Air force Veteran, won a court decision that allowed him to enroll in the all-white University. • Mississippi Governor, Ross Barnett, met Meredith at the doors of the University and prevented him from entering to register. • Kennedy ordered Federal Marshalls to escort Meredith into the offices to register.
Integrating ‘Ole Miss’ • On September 30, 1962, riots broke out on campus. • Results were 2 deaths, 200 arrests and over a thousand soldiers all within a 15 hour period. • Federal Officials were needed to accompany Meredith to and from class and protect his family from nightriders who shot up their home.
Heading to Birmingham • Birmingham, Alabama became known as ‘Bombingham” because of all the racially motivate bombing that occurred. • MLK was invited to come to help desegregate the city in April 1963. • On April 12, 1963, King and others were arrested for demonstrating. • Responding to white religious leaders who thought King and others were pushing to hard for equal rights, he writes an open letter response.
Heading to Birmingham • In the letter, King writes:
Marching to Washington • Kennedy sends Civil Rights bill to Congress that: • Grants equal access to all public accommodations; • Gave U.S attorney general the power to file school desegregation suits. • To persuade Congress to pass the bill, A Philip Randolph and Bayard Rustin of the SCLC call on Americans to come to Washington D.C. • August 28, 1963, more than 250,000 people, including 75,000 whites show up.
Marching to Washington • The featured speaker, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. rallies the crowd with his now famous “I Have a Dream” speech.
Marching to Washington • Two weeks later, 4 young girls are killed when a bomb is tossed into a church window. • 2 months later, JFK is assassinated. • July 2, 1964, LBJ signs the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Fighting for Voting Rights/Freedom Summer • For many African – Americans, voting remain elusive. • In 1964, both SNCC and SCLC workers began registering as many African – Americans as they could to vote. • Civil Rights groups recruited college students, both black and white, trained them in non-violent resistance. • Many of the students were female
Fighting for Voting Rights/Freedom Summer • Beginning in Mississippi, these jobs proved to be deadly. • It was later learned that Klansmen murdered three civil rights workers, two whom were white. • Throughout the summer, racial beatings and murders continued.
Fighting for Voting Rights/Freedom Summer • Needing a new political voice, Fannie Lou Hamer organized the Mississippi Freedom Democrats. • MFD showed up at the 1964 Democratic National Convention to voice their concerns. • Hamer described how she was arrested and jailed for registering to vote. • She also told how police forced other prisoners to beat her.
Fighting for Voting Rights/Freedom Summer • Response to Hamer’s story brought hundreds of telegrams and phone calls. • Leaders of the convention agreed to give the MFD 2 seats at the convention. • When Hamer learned of the pending compromise, she said, “We didn’t come all this way for no 2 seats.”
Fighting for Voting Rights/Freedom Summer • In early 1965, SCLC began conducting a major voting rights campaign in Selma, Alabama. • By the end of 65, more than 2,000 African – Americans had been arrested in SCLC sponsored demonstrations. • Jimmy Lee Jackson, one of the protesters was shot and killed. • MLK responded by announcing a 50 mile march to Montgomery.
Fighting for Voting Rights/Freedom Summer • As the march proceeded, riots broke out. • Caught on T.V., the nation watched as African – Americans were openly beaten by police with clubs, whips and tear gas. • Johnson sends federal protection to guard the marchers. • In the summer of 65, LBJ signs the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Homework/Classwork • Chapter 21 – 2 • Reteaching • Section Quiz • Textbook • Page 716 • # 3
