Civil Rights Movement In The 1960s

The 1960s were defined by major social movements such as the civil rights movement. The Black Panthers were founded in 1966 to combat police brutality and protect black lives from police violence. The establishment of Black Panthers was a self-defense group in response to police violence against African Americans. They protested against police brutality and systemic racism in America by organizing peaceful demonstrations, sit-ins, and marches. They also conducted armed patrols to monitor police activity in black neighborhoods. As they marched to the capitol with loaded rifles, the Black Panthers garnered national attention. They started to be the center of public attention and because of their courage, it prompted more black folks to join.

Nixon, however, asserted that he would not be impacted by these anti-war demonstrations. The anti-war movement was founded by American youth who wanted the war to cease and the costs on American society to disappear. Nixon, however, declared in 1970 that he would send American forces into Cambodia to combat the Viet Cong. There were significant protests against this judgment on American college campuses. Students believed their concerns were not being heard and were furious that the government was intensifying the conflict. The students would firebomb the schools, destroy furniture, and burn their uniforms. In reaction to the student riots, Nixon said that the children who were fighting bravely were the true Americans and the students causing riots were nothing but bums. On May 4, 1970, students at Kent State University burned down the ROTC building as a symbol of their opposition to the war. The building was seen as a symbol of the government's militaristic policies, and the students felt that it was an appropriate target for their anger. The burning of the ROTC building was a dramatic and symbolic act of protest, and it helped to galvanize opposition to the war. However, it was also a dangerous and destructive act, and it resulted in the arrest and prosecution of many students. When the National Guard was sent to Kent State University to restore order, they opened fire on a crowd of

There were some people who did not like the Kent students' demonstrations. They believed the students to be disloyal to their country and disrespectful of the military and administration. They held that the students shouldn't be permitted to voice their thoughts in such a visible and disruptive manner because they were upsetting the peace and order of society. There were some Americans who thought the antiwar college students were responsible for their own deaths and that the Guards should have fired more shots. But, the shooting at Kent State University was the overzealous response of Nixon and the government. Despite the tragedy, the students persisted in their protests in favor of an end to the war and