Who was involved?
John F. Kennedy
Our president, John F. Kennedy, defined the civil rights movements as constitutional and legal. He believe that a major bill towards civil rights would be sent to Congress to guarantee equal access to public facilities as well as in schools, churches, diners, and libraries. The bills were never passed against Congress. In the video below, Kennedy discusses his ideas towards equality and how people are treating each other. At one point he states, "treat others the way you want to be treated." It is something we are still told today. He address the conflict between blacks and whites to be rather unfair and tries to create equality amongst those in Birmingham.
Our president, John F. Kennedy, defined the civil rights movements as constitutional and legal. He believe that a major bill towards civil rights would be sent to Congress to guarantee equal access to public facilities as well as in schools, churches, diners, and libraries. The bills were never passed against Congress. In the video below, Kennedy discusses his ideas towards equality and how people are treating each other. At one point he states, "treat others the way you want to be treated." It is something we are still told today. He address the conflict between blacks and whites to be rather unfair and tries to create equality amongst those in Birmingham.
Martin Luther King Jr.
King was known for creating a huge impact on leading the African Americans to civil rights. He had a loud voice that delivered well in speeches and masses of people. A number of protesters were led by Martin Luther King Jr. On April 12, 1963 those who were set out for march with their leader were all arrested and taken to jail that day.
Martin Luther King Jr. remained in jail until April 20, 1963. While being in jail, he wrote his famous document, "Letter from Birmingham Jail." He outlined the idea of why his movement and nonviolent methods were so important towards racial discrimination. "People have a moral responsibility to unjust laws," as stated in his letter as well. This letter has became a critical document in history of the American civil rights movement.
King was known for creating a huge impact on leading the African Americans to civil rights. He had a loud voice that delivered well in speeches and masses of people. A number of protesters were led by Martin Luther King Jr. On April 12, 1963 those who were set out for march with their leader were all arrested and taken to jail that day.
Martin Luther King Jr. remained in jail until April 20, 1963. While being in jail, he wrote his famous document, "Letter from Birmingham Jail." He outlined the idea of why his movement and nonviolent methods were so important towards racial discrimination. "People have a moral responsibility to unjust laws," as stated in his letter as well. This letter has became a critical document in history of the American civil rights movement.
Bull Connor
Eugene "Bull" Connor was known as a pro segregationist and had close ties with the Klu Klux Klan. Connor was the Commissioner of Public Safety for the city of Birmingham during the Civil Rights Movement. His actions to enforce racial discrimination and hatred for African Americans made him known as the symbol of racism. Connor was mostly in charge of sending many innocent black protesters to jail. He directed the use of fire hoses and police dogs on blacks as well. Many whites supported Eugene "Bull" Connor's ideas while many were against it. Other whites joined the blacks in the fight for freedom in the American Civil Rights Movement of 1963.
"As I have said on numerous occasions, we are not going to stand for this in Birmingham. And if necessary we will fill the jail full and we don't care whose toes we step on. I am saying now to these meddlers from out of our city the best thing for them to do is stay out if they don't want to get slapped in jail. Our people of Birmingham are a peaceful people and we never have any trouble here unless some people come into our city looking for trouble. And I've never seen anyone yet look for trouble who wasn't able to find it”-Bull Connor
Eugene "Bull" Connor was known as a pro segregationist and had close ties with the Klu Klux Klan. Connor was the Commissioner of Public Safety for the city of Birmingham during the Civil Rights Movement. His actions to enforce racial discrimination and hatred for African Americans made him known as the symbol of racism. Connor was mostly in charge of sending many innocent black protesters to jail. He directed the use of fire hoses and police dogs on blacks as well. Many whites supported Eugene "Bull" Connor's ideas while many were against it. Other whites joined the blacks in the fight for freedom in the American Civil Rights Movement of 1963.
"As I have said on numerous occasions, we are not going to stand for this in Birmingham. And if necessary we will fill the jail full and we don't care whose toes we step on. I am saying now to these meddlers from out of our city the best thing for them to do is stay out if they don't want to get slapped in jail. Our people of Birmingham are a peaceful people and we never have any trouble here unless some people come into our city looking for trouble. And I've never seen anyone yet look for trouble who wasn't able to find it”-Bull Connor