Good Friday march: Difference between revisions

From Bhamwiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
(1st pass)
 
No edit summary
Line 1: Line 1:
The '''Good Friday march''' was a [[Civil Rights movement|Civil Rights demonstration]] organized by the [[Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights]] and the [[Southern Christian Leadership Conference]] as part of their "[[Birmingham Campaign]]" to [[Segregation laws|desegregate]] [[Birmingham]] businesses, parks and hiring practices. It took place on Good Friday, the Friday before Easter Sunday, on [[April 12]], [[1963]].
The '''Good Friday march''' was a [[Civil Rights movement|Civil Rights demonstration]] organized by the [[Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights]] and the [[Southern Christian Leadership Conference]] as part of their "[[Birmingham Campaign]]" to [[Segregation laws|desegregate]] [[Birmingham]] businesses, parks and hiring practices. It took place on Good Friday, the Friday before Easter Sunday, on [[April 12]], [[1963]].


King had arrived on April 2 to join the planned campaign of nonviolent public demonstrations. The ACMHR's applications for parade permits had been unilaterally denied by [[Birmingham City Commission|Commissioner of Public Safety]] [[Bull Connor]], subjecting participants to arrest. King pledged at mass meetings to join in, saying that it was "better to go to jail in dignity than to accept segregation". He announced at a mass meeting on [[April 10]] that in two days, "Ralph Abernathy and I will make our move. I can't think of a better day than Good Friday to for a move to freedom."
SCLC president [[Martin Luther King Jr]] had arrived in Birmingham on April 2 to join the planned campaign of nonviolent public demonstrations. The ACMHR's applications for parade permits had been unilaterally denied by [[Birmingham City Commission|Commissioner of Public Safety]] [[Bull Connor]], subjecting participants to arrest. King pledged at mass meetings to join in, saying that it was "better to go to jail in dignity than to accept segregation". He announced at a mass meeting on [[April 10]] that in two days, "Ralph Abernathy and I will make our move. I can't think of a better day than Good Friday to for a move to freedom."


That same Wednesday as King's announcement, an order was obtained from [[Jefferson County Circuit Court]] Judge [[Wiliam Jenkins]] enjoining the movement from "sponsoring, encouraging or participating in mass demonstrations" without securing a permit from the city. The injunction was served at the [[Gaston Motel]] at 1:00 AM on Thursday. The organizers had already planned to defy any court orders that they interpreted as denying them their constitutional rights. [[Wyatt Walker]] prepared a formal response.
That same Wednesday as King's announcement, the [[Birmingham City Commission]] secured a court order from [[Jefferson County Circuit Court]] Judge [[Wiliam Jenkins]] enjoining the movement from "sponsoring, encouraging or participating in mass demonstrations," without securing a permit from the city. The injunction was served at the [[Gaston Motel]] at 1:00 AM on Thursday. Though the SCLC had generally agreed to obey court-issued opinions while challenging local laws, they had already determined that in Birmingham they would defy any court orders that they interpreted as denying them their constitutional rights. [[Wyatt Walker]] prepared a formal response to that effect to be issued to the press on Thursday morning.


Participants gathered Friday morning at [[St Paul United Methodist Church]] where speakers such as [[Andrew Young]] and [[Dorothy Cotton]] addressed the crowd. In the church office, [[Martin Luther King]] was on the telephone with President John Kennedy and Attorney General Robert Kennedy, who were both urging him to call off the demonstrations in favor of a negotiated truce. At 1:00 PM King announced from the pulpit that the march would take place.
King himself faced another important decision on Thursday. The SCLC's bail fund had been depleted and King's speaking fees and donor contacts were its primary source of income. King's father also worried that in a city like Birmingham where the police worked hand in hand with the [[Ku Klux Klan]], that an arrest might lead to his son's death. After a period of prayer and fasting alone in his room at the motel on Friday morning, King changed into denim work clothes and announced that he would lead the Good Friday march.
 
Participants gathered Friday morning at [[St Paul United Methodist Church]] where speakers such as [[Andrew Young]] and [[Dorothy Cotton]] addressed the crowd. In the church office, King and Abernathy spoke on the telephone with President John Kennedy and Attorney General Robert Kennedy, who were both urging him to call off the demonstrations in favor of a negotiated truce. At 1:00 PM King announced from the pulpit that the march would begin.


From the front of the church at 1500 [[6th Avenue North]] the group proceeded east to the end of the block in front of [[16th Street Baptist Church]], and turned south on [[16th Street North|16th Street]] to [[5th Avenue North]] alongside [[Kelly Ingram Park]]. They proceeded eastward on 5th Avenue until they were met by a [[Birmingham Police Department|Birmingham Police officer]] on a motorcycle just past [[18th Street North|18th Street]] in front of the [[Robert S. Vance Federal Courthouse]].
From the front of the church at 1500 [[6th Avenue North]] the group proceeded east to the end of the block in front of [[16th Street Baptist Church]], and turned south on [[16th Street North|16th Street]] to [[5th Avenue North]] alongside [[Kelly Ingram Park]]. They proceeded eastward on 5th Avenue until they were met by a [[Birmingham Police Department|Birmingham Police officer]] on a motorcycle just past [[18th Street North|18th Street]] in front of the [[Robert S. Vance Federal Courthouse]].
Line 11: Line 13:
When the officer yelled at the group to "halt", the leaders dropped to their knees and began to pray. The site of the nonviolent confrontation is marked on the [[Birmingham Civil Rights Heritage Trail]].
When the officer yelled at the group to "halt", the leaders dropped to their knees and began to pray. The site of the nonviolent confrontation is marked on the [[Birmingham Civil Rights Heritage Trail]].


The marchers were arrested for parading without a permit, loaded into a paddy wagon, and taken to [[Birmingham City Jail]]. King was isolated in solitary confinement while the other marchers kept their spirits up by singing freedom songs. Most were bailed out the next morning. King was kept in prison and used the time to compose his "[[Letter from a Birmingham Jail]]" to detail the reasoning, strategy, and moral context for the public demonstrations.
The marchers were arrested for parading without a permit, loaded into a paddy wagon, and taken to [[Birmingham City Jail]]. King was isolated in solitary confinement while the other marchers kept their spirits up by singing hymns and freedom songs, fulfilling Shuttlesworth's prediction that the marches would "turn the jails into church houses". Most demonstrators were bailed out the next morning. King was kept in prison and used the time to compose his "[[Letter from a Birmingham Jail]]" to detail the reasoning, strategy, and moral context for the public demonstrations.


==Participants==
==Participants==

Revision as of 12:12, 14 September 2017

The Good Friday march was a Civil Rights demonstration organized by the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference as part of their "Birmingham Campaign" to desegregate Birmingham businesses, parks and hiring practices. It took place on Good Friday, the Friday before Easter Sunday, on April 12, 1963.

SCLC president Martin Luther King Jr had arrived in Birmingham on April 2 to join the planned campaign of nonviolent public demonstrations. The ACMHR's applications for parade permits had been unilaterally denied by Commissioner of Public Safety Bull Connor, subjecting participants to arrest. King pledged at mass meetings to join in, saying that it was "better to go to jail in dignity than to accept segregation". He announced at a mass meeting on April 10 that in two days, "Ralph Abernathy and I will make our move. I can't think of a better day than Good Friday to for a move to freedom."

That same Wednesday as King's announcement, the Birmingham City Commission secured a court order from Jefferson County Circuit Court Judge Wiliam Jenkins enjoining the movement from "sponsoring, encouraging or participating in mass demonstrations," without securing a permit from the city. The injunction was served at the Gaston Motel at 1:00 AM on Thursday. Though the SCLC had generally agreed to obey court-issued opinions while challenging local laws, they had already determined that in Birmingham they would defy any court orders that they interpreted as denying them their constitutional rights. Wyatt Walker prepared a formal response to that effect to be issued to the press on Thursday morning.

King himself faced another important decision on Thursday. The SCLC's bail fund had been depleted and King's speaking fees and donor contacts were its primary source of income. King's father also worried that in a city like Birmingham where the police worked hand in hand with the Ku Klux Klan, that an arrest might lead to his son's death. After a period of prayer and fasting alone in his room at the motel on Friday morning, King changed into denim work clothes and announced that he would lead the Good Friday march.

Participants gathered Friday morning at St Paul United Methodist Church where speakers such as Andrew Young and Dorothy Cotton addressed the crowd. In the church office, King and Abernathy spoke on the telephone with President John Kennedy and Attorney General Robert Kennedy, who were both urging him to call off the demonstrations in favor of a negotiated truce. At 1:00 PM King announced from the pulpit that the march would begin.

From the front of the church at 1500 6th Avenue North the group proceeded east to the end of the block in front of 16th Street Baptist Church, and turned south on 16th Street to 5th Avenue North alongside Kelly Ingram Park. They proceeded eastward on 5th Avenue until they were met by a Birmingham Police officer on a motorcycle just past 18th Street in front of the Robert S. Vance Federal Courthouse.

When the officer yelled at the group to "halt", the leaders dropped to their knees and began to pray. The site of the nonviolent confrontation is marked on the Birmingham Civil Rights Heritage Trail.

The marchers were arrested for parading without a permit, loaded into a paddy wagon, and taken to Birmingham City Jail. King was isolated in solitary confinement while the other marchers kept their spirits up by singing hymns and freedom songs, fulfilling Shuttlesworth's prediction that the marches would "turn the jails into church houses". Most demonstrators were bailed out the next morning. King was kept in prison and used the time to compose his "Letter from a Birmingham Jail" to detail the reasoning, strategy, and moral context for the public demonstrations.

Participants

References

Retrieved from "http://bhamwiki.com/w/index.php?title=Good_Friday_march&oldid=140944"