Students Stage Sit-insStudents Stage Sit-ins Many protests were held to end

segregation in public places February 1960 four African American

students sat at a segregated lunch counter•In Greensboro, NC

•Refused to leave until they were served

•Action known as a “sit-in”

By September 70,000 students were sing this tactic

The Freedom RidersThe Freedom Riders Volunteers who rode buses to segregated

bus terminals•Summer of 1961

•Largely college students Busses were attacked

•Police refused to provide protection Kennedy used federal marshals to protect

riders Justice Department encouraged

Interstate Commerce Commission to bring lawsuits against segregation

Kennedy and Civil RightsKennedy and Civil RightsKennedy promised civil rights

reform in election of 1960•Initially did not follow through

•Because of his narrow defeat of Nixon

•He didn’t want to lose Southern support

Violence broke out in Birmingham•MLKJ was jailed

•Wrote famous letters

•Kennedy would not tolerate it anymore•Sent troops to restore peace in Birmingham

•Proposed a new civil rights bill

Trouble in Southern Trouble in Southern UniversitiesUniversities

Department of Justice brought many suits for desegregation of schools•Kennedy sent federal marshals to enable

James Meredith to enter the University of Mississippi

•Alabama Governor George Wallace prevented desegregation of the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa•Kennedy federalized Alabama National Guard

Kennedy saw the importance of legislation against segregation

The March on WashingtonThe March on Washington August 1963

•Celebrating 100 Year Anniversary of Emancipation Proclamation

200,000 demonstrators came to Washington

MLKJ made his “I Have a Dream” speech A New Civil Rights Act

•Awakened millions to the movement

•Showed support to Congress for Civil Rights Bill

Following Kennedy’s assassination, LBJ was determined to follow his initiative

Civil Rights ActCivil Rights Act Johnson utilized remorse over Kennedy’s

assassination to get his bill through July 2, 1964 – Civil Rights Act of 1964

•Strongest act since Reconstruction

•All citizens should have equal access to•Public facilities

•Private facilities serving the public

•forbade discrimination in education

•Outlawed job discrimination Voting Rights Act of 1965

•Paved the way for all African Americans to vote