How Did George Wallace Influence The Civil Rights Movement

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George Wallace was a four-time Alabama governor. He was one of the main leaders and public figures of the resistance against the Civil Rights Movement. During the 1960's he held many speeches and led many rallies to fight against the Civil Rights Movement. George Wallace believed that the Civil Rights Act passed in 1964 was a "Fraud, Sham and Hoax." He didn't agree with the civil rights movement or the new laws that the Civil Rights Act implemented. He led a large fight and resistance not just against the Civil Rights Act but against the Central Government and the judiciary system. He also attacked the newspaper companies as he believed the information they were putting out was a hoax. On the other side there were groups of people who were …show more content…

They faced heinous hate crimes ranging from hate full messages and death threats all the way to losing their lives as they were attacked and killed by groups of people that were Anti Civil Rights. The Civil rights Act sparked the best and the worst in Americans as it brought different groups of people from those want wanted division to those who wanted equal rights to fight for what they believed was right. George Wallace believed that the 1964 Civil Right Act was wrong because it went against the constitution and what Americans have fought for in the past. He believed that by allowing civil rights for people of color, America was going against its constitution and the beliefs of the American people. Wallace believed that the Civil rights act was "an act of tyranny" because, "Never before in the history of this nation have so many human and property rights been destroyed by a single enactment of the Congress." He saw the central government as an oppressor and against the people because the new bill "threatens our freedom of speech, of assembly, or association." He still viewed people of color as property so therefore that …show more content…

They were beaten, threated, killed and they saw all their colleagues involved in the projects lose their lives and loved one's as they continued to fight for what they believed in. Although most of the activist experienced all the heinous hate crimes and extreme fear of being hurt they still continued to peacefully protests and much of the Freedom Summer project. They inspired by rallying everyone up, by singing powerful songs and by expressing how much love and care they had for one another. These activists were able to use the words of other activists like Martin Luther and the pain and suffering that they have endured to push for equality in a peaceful and loving manner. Although there were some people who held lots of bitterness and hate towards whites, a lot of the activist continued to push through that to respond to all the hate with as much kindness as they could. They made it very clear that they're goal was to end racism and segregation in a peaceful way so that people of color and whites would be able to live together in harmony. They just sang their beautiful songs like "We are not afraid. Oh, Lord, deep in my heart, I do believe. We Shall Overcome Someday" to help eradicate the fear they faced and to give confidence to the other activists and their supporters in the Freedom Summer