Alabama, 1963

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Alabama, 1963
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Demonstration

• January 1963
• Martin Luther King announced that the SCLC would
  demonstrate in Alabama, Birmingham
• the campaign in Birmingham will surely be the
  toughest fight of our civil rights career MLK

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KKK one of the most violent in the country
Klan had the support of Bull Connor, police. He
believed in segregation.
Why Alabama?
Birmingham nicknamed Bombingham
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Why Alabama?

• businessmen believed that racism held back the
  city but their voices were usually quiet.
• the KKK had castrated an African American
• pressured the city to ban a book from book stores
  as it contained pictures of black and white
  rabbits
• wanted black music banned on radio stations.

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Activity

• Segregation now, segregation tomorrow,
  segregation forever
• George Wallace, governor of Alabama, 1963
• How useful is this source for finding out about
  the situation in Alabama?

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Aim of demonstration

• To desegregate public facilities and department
  stores
• Limited aims but even before the march began King
  and Shuttlesworth were arrested

Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth
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Letter from Birmingham Jail

• Martin Luther King responded to those who thought
  Blacks should be patient and wait for gradual
  change
• http//www.stanford.edu/group/King/popular_request
  s/frequentdocs/birmingham.pdf

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May 2nd

• The march begins after the release of the leaders
• School children were asked to lead the march to
  gain publicity
• Bull Connor ordered the arrest of all the
  students
• Over 900 children age 6 to 18 were jailed

Bull Connor
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May 3rd

• Water cannons and dogs were used to attack the
  marchers
• America watched in horror as school-children were
  beaten and bitten

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Talking Birmingham Jam

• Phil Ochs
• go to http//vi.uh.edu/pages/buzzmat/bhamjam.html
  
• Read the lyrics of this protest song

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4th of May

• Connor ordered his men to attack again
• However the firemen and police refused
• Many protesters were still arrested though

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5th of May

• Both sides were having second thoughts
• The demonstrators were receiving publicity but at
  a cost
• They decided to continue
• Local businessmen were also keen to find a
  solution due to the bad publicity affecting their
  trade

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Violence

• The businessmen agreed that rest rooms, lunch
  counters, fitting rooms and drinking fountains
  would be desegregated in 90 days
• The local Klan found out and rioted

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Violence

• The KKK firebombed black churches, businesses and
  homes
• The Gaston motel were protesters were staying was
  firebombed
• As they ran out Wallace ordered Colonel Al Lingo
  to attack the protesters

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Violence

• The protesters fought back
• This lead to a riot
• 40 people were injured and 7 stores destroyed by
  fire

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ACTIVITY

• After the demonstrations Kennedy apparently said
  the civil rights people should thank God for
  Bull Connor
• Explain what you think Kennedy meant by this
  statement

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Were the demonstrations successful?

• The media had once again shown America what life
  was like for African Americans in the South
• provided the movement with a boost.
• Extra money poured into the SCLC as a result of
  this event.

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Were the demonstrations successful?

• Go to http//www.bcri.org/resource_gallery/intervi
  ew_segments/index.htm
• Listen to Jesse Champion talk about his
  experience as a high school teacher at the height
  of the Birmingham demonstrations.

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Led to demands for change
Kennedy could not ignore the mood
Shocked by pictures
Kennedy ordered an end to segregation in
Birmingham
YES Publicity
Were the demonstrations a success?
NO
Costly in human life
MLK lost support as many questioned the
non-violence policy
Demonstrators beaten by the police
3 students and Medgar Evers murdered in
Mississippi
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Activity

• Go to http//www.learningcurve.gov.uk/heroesvillai
  ns/g6/cs2/
• Read through the documents at the side of the
  page and complete the activities