Struggle For Equality On Public Transport Flashcards
Describe the effects of the Bus Boycott 1955-56.
> local civil rights activists set up the Montgomery Improvement Association (MIA)
- was lead by Reverend Dr Martin Luther King, a young Baptist minister
- they organised a boycott of the bus service and private transport for the participants
> civil rights lawyers fought Rosa Park’s case in court in December 1956 the laws were made illegal, bus companies gave in
> beginning of non-violent mass protest by civil rights movement
Describe Rosa Parks in the bus boycott 1955-56.
> in Montgomery Alabama the law was that African American were required to sit at the back of buses and give up their seats for white passengers
> 1st of December 1955 Rosa Parks an NAACP activist refused to give up her seat, she was arrested and convicted for breaking bus laws
When and where did the sit-ins begin?
> Greensboro North Carolina February 1960
> lunch counter at F.W Woolworth
What was the development of the sit-ins?
> by 1961 sit-ins in restaurants, libraries and movie theatres had attracted over 70,000
- 3,000 arrests
Why did the freedom rides begin?
> in 1961 segregation of interstate buses was still legal
> members of the CORE ( congress of racial equality) began a form direct non-violent protest known as ‘freedom rides’
Describe the plan of the freedom riders.
> they deliberately rode on buses ignoring the segregation laws
> began on the 4th of May 1961
> planned to travel from Washington DC to New Orleans, but were met with hostile reception once they reached the Southern States
What happened to the freedom riders in Alabama?
> a bus was attacked and burned
What happened to the freedom riders in Montgomery?
Several freedom riders were beat up by white racists
What happened to the freedom riders in Birmingham?
No police protection so were attacked by an angry mob
What happened to the freedom riders in Mississippi?
> 27 freedom riders were jailed for 67 days for sitting in the White only section
What was the effect of the freedom riders?
> continued despite violence and by the end of the summer of 1961
- 70,00 had taken part and 3,600 had been arrested
> attorney General Robert Kennedy was able to end segregation in buses railways and airports
