The SCLC

1. The SCLC

Some key campaigns

2. SCLC

Formed in response to Montgomery protest Meeting January 1957 60 leaders, discuss non-violent resistance Southern Christian Leadership Conference Originally composed affiliate churches and some community orgs, not individual members Originally central �clearing house�, gave local support Early 1960s became organiser of campaigns

3. SCLC: Key campaigns

Citizenship schools: ostensibly adult literacy classes, actually black history, civil rights struggle Albany Movement: sought desegregation of Albany, Georgia. Not considered successful despite sit-ins and protests, but impt. practice for future protests Birmingham Campaign: single goal, desegregation Birmingham�s downtown merchants. Confronted with police brutality, MLK imprisoned, Kennedy intervened

4. SCLC: Key Campaigns

March on Washington: 1963, for jobs and freedom, 2-300,000 participated, �I have a dream� speech St. Augustine Protest: 1964, protests in Florida met with arrests and KKK response. Requested SCLC support � leaders sent, demonstrations in North, sit-ins, MLK arrested lunch, beaches resulted brutality, swimming pool acid poured in. Built support for Civil Rights Act of 1964 (invalidated Jim Crow: no segregation in housing, schools, hiring) Selma Voting Rights: 1% black voters registered, result literacy test, economic pressure and violence e.g. 32 teachers fired by all-white school board for registering

5. Selma Voting Rights and March

Attempts to register voters = backlash KKK and White Citizens� Council 7 Oct 1963 gathered at voter registration office, many arrested, few able to register Protests at eating and entertainment venues, but Jim Crow still strong despite passage Civil Rights Act 6 July 1964, 50 blacks organised to vote 9 July 1964, Judge James Hare issued injunction forbidding gathering three+ people under sponsorship civil rights organisation or leader: suppressed protest for 6 months

6. Selma Voting Rights and March

Judge Hare�s injunction forced request to SCLC, started work December 1964 2 January 1965 held mass meeting in defiance anti-meeting injunction Expanded voter registration drives and protests 18 February 1965 a trooper shot Jimmie Lee Jackson, trying to protect mother and grandmother in caf� they had fled to while being attacked by troopers during civil rights demonstration Death resulted in 525-600 civil rights marchers 7 March 1965 with goal of bringing attention to issue � march to Montgomery to ask Governor George Wallace to protect black residents Wallace declared march threat to public safety, 6 blocks from start of march stopped: police with tear gas, clubs and whips = �Bloody Sunday�, televised internationally, support for Civil Rights movement

7. Second March

MLK organised second march, 9 March 1965 Called for people across the country to participate � about 2500 people marched Marchers attempted obtain a court order, prohibiting police from interfering. Instead restraining order issued, preventing march from taking place until judge could hold additional hearings Marchers decided hold a partial, �ceremonial� march: wanted to allow marchers action, but not want alienate one of few sympathetic southern judges MLK led marches to Edmund Pettus Bridge, held short prayer session, turned around to avoid breaking court order preventing going to Montgomery Originally only SCLC leaders told of plan, some marchers frustrated, but told another attempt would be made That evening, three white ministers beaten with clubs in front of cafe frequented by segregationist whites. One died two days later

8. Third March

One week later, Judge ruled in favour of SCLC, preventing the state from blocking marchers: �The law is clear that the right to petition one�s government for the redress of grievances may be exercised in large groups� and these rights may be exercised by marching, even along public highways.� Five day and four night march began on 21 March Reached Montgomery 24 March, that night a �Stars for Freedom� rally held, with singers such as Sammy Davis, Jr. By 25 March 25,000 present and King delivered speech beside State Capitol Building Within 5 months of third march, LBJ signed Voting Rights Act 1965

9. SCLC: Key campaigns

Grenada Freedom Movement: Civil Rights Act not applied in Grenada, Mississippi, SCLC demanded segregation be eliminated, called for boycott white merchants, police enforced Jim Crow social order. July and August large mobs white segregationists mobilised, attacking nonviolent protestors and news reporters New school years, SCLC enouraged 450 black students to register at formerly white schools � fierce resistance, threatened with economic retaliation, dropped to 250 students First day of school white mob attacked black children and parents on way to school. Police and State troopers did not intervene

10. Following days continued attacks until public pressure and Federal court order forced Mississippi lawmen to intervene End of first week many parents withdrawn their children from white schools in fear for their safety. Approx. 150 still attended Harassment in school but teachers and students, many expelled on pretexts, by mid-October number dropped to 70 Resulted in mass boycott, 2500 students across Grenada County. Boycott ended early November when SCLC attorneys won a Federal court order

11. Methods

SCLC was key civil disobedience organisation Differed from NAACP, as focused on direct action vs. legislation and education (although both overlap at times) SCLC�s original purpose was to support other organisations, especially with their methodology 1960s took on organising role, but generally did not act alone: all the above campaigns were protested in conjunction with a local organisation In the mid-1960s the civil rights movement because fragmented, with increasing calls for a more militant stance, e.g. SNCC (Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee)