Followers exercised their rights to protest racial discrimination in employment, segregated public schooling, and demanded minimum wage for all workers. Being the largest gathering in history, pressure was growing on a national level for the President John F Kennedy (JFK) to push for the civil rights laws to pass. King’s idealism and national attention brought to the March on Washington helped the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The Civil Rights Act, “banned discrimination in employment and public accommodations based on, ‘race, color, religion, or national origin.” Martin Luther King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 for his achievement in peaceful efforts to bring change. At times King was not present during sit ins or marches although, because he was so influential and people believed in King as a leader, people continued to follow his tactics of nonviolence even when absent. SCLC’s Williams and John Lewis lead a march from Selma to the capitol Montgomery, Alabama to confront the …show more content…
Workers demanded the ending of discrimination in the workplace, safe working conditions, equal pay, and recognition from the union. It was here where King delivered his “ I've been to the mountaintop speech” and later that evening Martin Luther King was assassinated at his motel. Attracting national attention and news media, Memphis agreed to the workers’ demands and the strike ended after 64 days. James Earl Ray plead guilty to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr, and sentenced to 99 years in jail (US History). MLK has left a lasting impression and is still seen today as the most widely recognized African-American leader of his era. Martin Luther King Jr, was a visionary leader who committed to achieving peace and equality for all