Max & Brandon (Civil Rights Museum)

Fighting for Freedom

By Max H & Brandon C

Birmingham

Little Rock 9

Selma Marches

nothing

Selma Marches

Selma Marches

Lobby

window

troopers

1965 Medal

Bloody Sunday

On March 7, 1965, Martin Luther King led thousands of people on 3 marches from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. Their protest aimed to bring attention to the lack of African American voting rights.

Their first march took place on March 7, 1965. It ended up unsuccessful, as the 600 marchers were met with state troopers. Upon the Edmund Pettus Bridge, violence broke out, and the march was put to an end. This incident would later be know as "Bloody Sunday". The second march was on March 9, 1965. Yet again, it was stopped due to the state. This time, the protetsters' were met with a blockade/barrier, preventing them from continuing further. The third march was the last one. On March 21, 1965, the marchers were accompanied by 1,000 military policemen, and 2,000 army troops. Now, the state could not interrupt the protest. By the end of the third march, almost 25,000 people had joined in and entered Montgomery.

In 1957, a federal judge ordered all public schools in Little Rock, Arkansas, to integrate. About 80 black students from Dunbar High School, the black high school at the time, were interviewed, and only nine were selected to attend Central High School to test integration. Governor Faubus uses the Arkansas National Guard to keep the kids out, with guards on school premises and blocking the entrance. The president orders him to let them in, but he refuses. President Eisenhower then sends 1,000 troops to Central High School, making the Arkansas National Guard move and let the kids in. The national guard stayed for the rest of the school year. Then, after that, Governor Faubus had a new plan to keep them out: close school. He closed school for the entire 1958-59 school year!

Little Rock 9

Lobby

Little Rock 9

The Nine

The School

The Mob

In 1963, the city of Birmingham, Alabama was known for its police force being the most resistant to integration. When Martin Luther King arrived he was arrested for "parading without a license". He spent a week in jail, and writes the "Letter from Birmingham Jail" to explain desired outcomes of the civil rights movement. King had an idea for a parade---children. He organized thousands of children to march in Birmingham with him, and thought that it would go well. After all, who would arrest children? Well, to his surprise, Bull Connor, chief of police at the time, was truly ruthless. He used police dogs and extremely high-pressure fire hoses to get rid of protestors, and arrested thousands of children. News of what happened was shown to the nation, and President Kennedy sent troops to Birmingham. Business owners eventually gave in and integrated. However, it wasn't instantly all sunshine and rainbows: hatred and violence toward integration still continued in Birmingham, and King's old headquarters was bombed, killing 4 girls.

Birmingham

Birmingham

Lobby

The Water

The HQ

The Jail

The Little Rock 9

These 9 kids are the Little Rock 9. They powered through constant hate from angry students who wanted them gone every day. They started the journey toward integration in Little Rock.

MLK in Jail

This is a photo of Martin Luther King writing "Letter from a Birmingham Jail". This shows how determined he is to make sure his ideas are still being spread to everyone. You might not be able to see it clearly, but he is writing it on a newspaper in the margins, which is a very smart way to sneakily write a letter.

*not historically accurate

"If the state used some of its troopers,it may pose a challenge." "But would you lose?" asked the protesters."Nah, I'd win."- Martin Luther King Jr.

The Bridge

This bridge, the Edmund Pettus Bridge, is where the first and second selma marches happened. It's also where "Bloody Sunday" happened.

The troopers

These are the state troopers that forcefully made peaceful protestors leave the bridge. This is important because you can see they were very armed with batons and guns. Some even had tear gas, which is a terrible thing to use.

1965 Selma to Montgomery Voting Rights Marches Bronze Medal

This medal was presented to the foot soldiers (voting rights marchers) who participated in the march from Selma to Mongomery. This is important to the people as it was the product of their effort. It displayed their hard work and persistence, all to achieve this simple medal, the one that solidified their right to vote.

The Mob

This photo features one of the nine being followed around campus. This picture alone shows how much people hated that she was going to their school, as someone behind her seems to be screaming at her.

The School

This photo shows Central High School surrounded by soldiers. And yes, this isn't editted, this was a real photo taken. They are here just to make sure the Little Rock 9 can get to school.

The HQ

After the Birmingham protesting, Martin Luther King's headquarters were bombed. In this incident, 4 girls were killed. The protest had not made much of an impact on equality. The community's remaining hatred and racism is displayed with this act.

The Water

This is a photo of the Birmingham Fire Department blasting innocent people with high-pressure fire hoses. You can see them cowering in fear and bracing themselves through the pain of the powerful blast. This shows how strong these people were being for their cause, and how far they would go to make their dreams come true.