King: Montgomery to Memphis

1. Montgomery Bus Boycott---1955

• Non violent Protest
• Economic boycott
• Bombing of MLK’s home
• Supreme Court rules segregation in transportation is unconstitutional—busses in Montgomery integrated
• First major Civil Rights victory

2.   Freedom Rides

• Forced integration
• Non-violent "Sit-Ins" in public places fill jails throughout the South
• Non–violent actions result in violent reactions
• Direct challenge to segregation
• Marches and protest against discrimination and segregation

3.  Bull Conner and the Birmingham Movement

• Large scale arrests response to non-violent direct action
• Use of attack dogs
• Use of fire hoses
• Letter from Birmingham jail
• Brought national attention to the outrage of segregation and the violent reaction of law enforcement in Birmingham, Alabama
• Resulted in desegregation in the city of Birmingham

4.  March on Washington—1963

• "I have a Dream" Speech
• Mobilized many Americans to support civil and equal rights for all
• King viewed as the moral leader of the nation
• Awarded the Noble Peace Prize-1963

5.  Selma Marches-1965

• Demonstrating for the right to vote
• Registration met with denial, intimidation and violence
• Selma to Montgomery marches broken up
• Third attempt a success due to the support of federal troops and President Lyndon Johnson

6.  Institutionalized Racism—Chicago 1966

• Northern Racism
• White Neighborhoods and Black Neighborhoods
• White Flight
• Race Riots

7.  Memphis 1968

• Sanitation workers strike
• April 3, 1968—Speech
• Assassination - April 4, 1968

It has been over 35 years since the death of Martin Luther King. Has Martin Luther King’s dream of justice and equality for all Americans become a reality or was Martin Luther King’s dream, just that, a dream and did he live his life in vain?