The Freedom RidersThe Freedom Riders

Young African American and white civil rights Young African American and white civil rights activists TESTING whether supreme court activists TESTING whether supreme court decisions were being upheld in the South. decisions were being upheld in the South. They weren’t. They weren’t.

Segregated bus routes, terminals- “Let’s test Segregated bus routes, terminals- “Let’s test them”them”

Southerners, led by Alabama State Police, Southerners, led by Alabama State Police, viciously beat the Freedom ridersviciously beat the Freedom riders

The goal was to leave Washington, DC and The goal was to leave Washington, DC and drive to New Orleans-testing whether laws drive to New Orleans-testing whether laws were being upheldwere being upheld

AttacksAttacks

Attacks against the Freedom riders Attacks against the Freedom riders continued through Alabama and into continued through Alabama and into MississippiMississippi

The Kennedy Administration The Kennedy Administration intervened and worked with the intervened and worked with the state governors of Alabama and state governors of Alabama and Mississippi-lawlessness was Mississippi-lawlessness was rampant. rampant.

See page 711See page 711

President Kennedy and civil President Kennedy and civil rightsrights

This violence convinced JFK that a “civil This violence convinced JFK that a “civil rights act” must be passedrights act” must be passed

JFK sent federal troops to ensure the JFK sent federal troops to ensure the university of alabama was being university of alabama was being desegregateddesegregated

““Is this the land of the free?”Is this the land of the free?” Shortly after JFK’s speech, civil rights Shortly after JFK’s speech, civil rights

activist and World War II veteran, Medger activist and World War II veteran, Medger Evers is murdered by a sniperEvers is murdered by a sniper

This brought a new militancy to many This brought a new militancy to many African AmericansAfrican Americans

Martin Luther King- “I Martin Luther King- “I Have a Dream”Have a Dream”

Martin Luther King, Jr organized a Martin Luther King, Jr organized a march on Washginton, DC to march on Washginton, DC to persuade congress to pass the Civil persuade congress to pass the Civil Rights ActRights Act

250 000 people marched including 250 000 people marched including 75000 whites(August 28, 1963)75000 whites(August 28, 1963)

Violence ContinuesViolence Continues

2 Weeks following the speech, 2 Weeks following the speech, someone threw a bomb into an African someone threw a bomb into an African American church killing four girlsAmerican church killing four girls

President Kennedy would be murdered President Kennedy would be murdered two months after that.two months after that.

New President, Lyndon Johnson, New President, Lyndon Johnson, vowed to carry on Kennedy’s civil vowed to carry on Kennedy’s civil rights agendarights agenda

Civil Rights Act of 1964 passedCivil Rights Act of 1964 passed

Racism in the NorthRacism in the North

De facto segregation-segregation De facto segregation-segregation that exists by practice, or traditionthat exists by practice, or tradition

De jure segregation-Segregation De jure segregation-Segregation based on lawbased on law

““White Flight” occurred in the White Flight” occurred in the Northern Cities-whites left to the Northern Cities-whites left to the suburbssuburbs