Civil Rights Movement Events

In 1964, numerous Northern students journeyed to Mississippi to advocate for Black citizens' voting rights.
Black individuals expressed reluctance to register due to fear of violence and economic repercussions.
Every step of the voter registration process posed significant dangers.
Local authorities were adamantly opposed to Black citizens gaining voting rights.
Despite the risks to their lives, jobs, homes, and families, activists persisted.
Voter registration applications were intentionally complex, sometimes administered by individuals with limited literacy.

On June 21, 1964, Michael Schwerner, James Chaney, and Andrew Goodman were detained near Philadelphia, Mississippi.
Michael Schwerner was a social worker from New York.
James Chaney was a local 21-year-old.
Andrew Goodman was a New Yorker involved in civil rights since age 14.
Sheriff Cecil Price ordered their release but they were followed and apprehended.
The disappearance of two white men drew immediate national attention.
President Johnson deployed FBI and Navy personnel to search for the missing activists.
The search uncovered the remains of other, unidentified Black individuals.
An informant led the FBI to the bodies, revealing they were beaten, tortured, shot, and buried.
The discovery brought sadness and relief, acknowledging the reality of racial hatred.
The federal government charged Sheriff Price and Klansmen with civil rights violations, but Mississippi didn't pursue murder charges.

The movement shifted focus to Selma, Alabama, and Marion where Black residents were a majority but voter registration was minimal (1%).
Police arrested 700 Black children for marching, and a leader was jailed for contributing to delinquency.
State police, reinforced by deputized locals, surrounded a prayer meeting at Mount Zion Methodist Church.
Jimmy Lee Jackson was shot by a state trooper while protecting his family.
Jimmy Lee Jackson's death sparked the Selma to Montgomery marches.
A march was planned from Selma to Montgomery, 54 miles, to petition the governor.
The march encountered violent resistance on "Bloody Sunday".
The events of Bloody Sunday prompted President Johnson to urge Congress to pass the Voting Rights Act and deploy federal troops to safeguard the march.

Following Bloody Sunday, President Johnson urged Congress to pass the Voting Rights Act.
The speaker reflects on the diverse participation in the movement.
The Voting Rights Act was eventually passed.
The speaker shares a personal story about missing a bus and experiencing violence, illustrating the dangers of the time.
He notes that progress has been made regarding racial diversity.
The speaker recalls incidents of racism from his youth, including KKK activities.

The speaker shares a story about his mother's family facing discrimination for being Catholic.
His grandfather, William James Young who was a structural steel worker, was a strong figure who protected his family.
The grandfather was deputized and carried a gun for self-defense due to concerns about the family's safety.