Birmingham Alabama The 90 day campaign which changed

Birmingham, Alabama “The 90 day campaign which changed the face of America forever. ”

KKK stronghold most racist city 50% black population Bull Connor

Racism in Birmingham • Recently the KKK had castrated a Black man; pressured the city to ban a book from book stores as it contained pictures of black and white rabbits and wanted black music banned on radio stations

• the most segregated city in the south • Bull Connor We will take the campaign to the toughest city in the south. • media

Bull Connor

PROJECT “C”

In April 1963, Martin Luther King and the SCLC arrived in Birmingham, Alabama. They aimed to end segregation, racism in employment and to set up a biracial committee.

The campaign in Birmingham mixed together old successful tactics – sit-ins and economic boycotts.

King organised a march.

Bull Connor arrested marchers and then banned marches.

King ignored the ban, was arrested and spent a few days in jail.

In jail, I wrote a letter. This became one of the most significant documents in modern history. The ‘Letter from Birmingham Jail’ justified the use of civil disobedience. The letter was written in response to a newspaper article which criticised me and my tactics. It was written by Birmingham religious leaders who urged me to work through the courts. I pointed out the shame they should feel. WE have worked through the courts and the courts have supported us, but no one in the south is taking any notice, including southern white clergy.

JFK intervened to get King out of jail. This is significant.

Connor ordered dogs and hoses to be used against protesters.

Over 1300 children were arrested by Bull Connor’s men.

Bu ll C rig onn ht or’ int s a o K cti ing ons ’s p ha laye nd s. d

Bull Connor’s use of dogs and hoses gained media attention particularly when children were attacked. Bull Connor’s racist statements to foreign news reporters also helped the civil rights cause. I like to see them niggers run!

How did the crisis end? • King was concerned about the violence. • White business leaders from Birmingham were concerned about their businesses following all the bad publicity. • A deal was struck. The Federal Government put pressure on Birmingham business leaders to act.

The Deal • • Desegregation of rest rooms. Desegregation of lunch counters. Desegregation of fitting rooms. Desegregation of drinking fountains.

Bull Connor has done more for civil rights than anyone else.

The events in Birmingham pushed JFK into action. He began to draft a Civil Rights Bill.

What was the significance of Birmingham? • It was the first time King had led the movement. • Tactics had worked – provoking people like Connor, agitating the black community and bystanders, damaging the white economic interests, manipulation of the news media, pushing the Federal Government to act.

The Federal Government’s response was the true significance of King’s campaign in Birmingham. And it was King who had so carefully set up the situation to get the media to take an interest. Media coverage of the events in Birmingham had made President Kennedy act.

Why did Birmingham work? BU CS LL I T C ’S G N TA NN O KI . FE D A ER CO LG T OV ME D IA R