Civil Rights Movement Key Historical Events Amid the 1950s and 1960s, African Americans were battling for balance within the lawful framework, so that they would be allowed to equalize their rights. African Americans were motivated by a desire to see justice served for all through protests, marches, and movements that would always be remembered. In pursuit of equity, African Americans rallied and embarked on a historic quest. Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr. were significant figures in the 1950s and 1960s who influenced the modern-day civil rights movement. Their leadership and ideas contributed to the launch of public demonstrations in support of the civil rights movement. Montgomery Bus Boycott, Albany Movement, Birmingham Campaign, …show more content…
It was in Montgomery, Alabama, that Rosa Parks was arrested for not offering her seat the bus to a white passenger. Immediately following the arrest, Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. initiated a protest of transportation services on December 1st, 1955, in retaliation for injustice against racial minorities. Rather than using public transportation, African Americans walked or received rides and this boycott lasted 381 days and was extremely influential. As a result of a federal court ruling in June 1956, the Supreme Court ruled that laws enacted to segregate buses were unlawful. During the civil rights movement, the Montgomery bus boycott was one of the first significant movements that contributed to societal change. Although King’s intention was to aid rather than participate, he was arrested during a demonstration and sentenced to 45 days in prison. To promote reform, he chose to be sent to jail, but he was released three days later. While some adjustments were made to the coalition, the movement failed in the end not achieving its objectives (Bond-Nelms, …show more content…
In 1964, the Civil Rights Act significantly impacted restaurants, hotels, gas stations, cinemas, theaters, parks, swimming pools, libraries, schools, and playgrounds (Christian, 2021, p.108). State troopers brutally attacked Selma, Alabama, protestors who were attempting to make a peaceful march to Montgomery, the state capital, on Bloody Sunday in 1965. Aiming to fight the lack of voting rights for African Americans, the march took place. A group of approximately 600 protestors was expected to travel along U.S. Highway 80 from Selma to the state capital, led by SNCC leader John Lewis (1940-2020), and SCLC officer Hosea Williams (1926-2000) (Christian, 2021, p.116). Public indignation was sparked by nationwide broadcasts of the brutality, which increased support for civil