Operation Oak Tree: Difference between revisions
(New page: '''Operation Oak Tree''' was a planned U.S. Army operation to restore peace during rioting in downtown Birmingham which followed bombings of the [[A. G. Gaston Motel]...) |
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The president also sought to counter the perceived threat of rioting spreading to other cities and worsening into a general rebellion against the federal government. Where the administration had been hesitant to activate troops to protect demonstrators, it felt more justified in using the military to protect the citizenry from "out of hand" African Americans. In his televised address to the nation, Kennedy pledged that the "government will do whatever must be done to preserve order, to protect the lives of its citizens...[and to] uphold the law of the land." | The president also sought to counter the perceived threat of rioting spreading to other cities and worsening into a general rebellion against the federal government. Where the administration had been hesitant to activate troops to protect demonstrators, it felt more justified in using the military to protect the citizenry from "out of hand" African Americans. In his televised address to the nation, Kennedy pledged that the "government will do whatever must be done to preserve order, to protect the lives of its citizens...[and to] uphold the law of the land." | ||
Major General [[Creighton Abrams]] was put in charge of the operation, which was headquartered in the [[FBI Birmingham Field Office|FBI's Birmingham Field Office]] in the [[2121 Building]]. Operation Oak Tree never involved action in the field, but it did cause about 18,000 soldiers to be placed on one-, two-, or four-hour alert status for possible deployment into the city. | Major General [[Creighton Abrams]] was put in charge of the operation, which was headquartered in the [[FBI Birmingham Field Office|FBI's Birmingham Field Office]] in the [[2121 Building]]. Operation Oak Tree never involved action in the field, but it did cause about 18,000 soldiers to be placed on one-, two-, or four-hour alert status for possible deployment into the city by [[May 18]]. | ||
Governor [[George Wallace]] became aware of the heightened military status and registered a complaint to the White House. In response the Operational headquarters was moved out of Birmingham to [[Fort McClellan]] in [[Anniston]]. Wallace sought an opinion for the United States Supreme Court on whether the administration's actions were unconstitutional. The response cited U.S. Code Title X, Section 333, and concluded that, "purely preparatory measures and their alleged adverse general effects upon the plaintiffs afford no basis for the granting of any relief." | Governor [[George Wallace]] became aware of the heightened military status and registered a complaint to the White House. In response the Operational headquarters was moved out of Birmingham to [[Fort McClellan]] in [[Anniston]]. Wallace sought an opinion for the United States Supreme Court on whether the administration's actions were unconstitutional. The response cited U.S. Code Title X, Section 333, and concluded that, "purely preparatory measures and their alleged adverse general effects upon the plaintiffs afford no basis for the granting of any relief." | ||
Revision as of 16:53, 18 June 2014
Operation Oak Tree was a planned U.S. Army operation to restore peace during rioting in downtown Birmingham which followed bombings of the A. G. Gaston Motel and A. D. King residence on May 11, 1963.
The operation was authorized by President John Kennedy on May 12 to protect the Birmingham Truce which had been announced two days earlier. Justice Department attorney Burke Marshall, who had helped broker that agreement, was sent back to Birmingham to discuss the matter with local officials and African-American leaders.
The president also sought to counter the perceived threat of rioting spreading to other cities and worsening into a general rebellion against the federal government. Where the administration had been hesitant to activate troops to protect demonstrators, it felt more justified in using the military to protect the citizenry from "out of hand" African Americans. In his televised address to the nation, Kennedy pledged that the "government will do whatever must be done to preserve order, to protect the lives of its citizens...[and to] uphold the law of the land."
Major General Creighton Abrams was put in charge of the operation, which was headquartered in the FBI's Birmingham Field Office in the 2121 Building. Operation Oak Tree never involved action in the field, but it did cause about 18,000 soldiers to be placed on one-, two-, or four-hour alert status for possible deployment into the city by May 18.
Governor George Wallace became aware of the heightened military status and registered a complaint to the White House. In response the Operational headquarters was moved out of Birmingham to Fort McClellan in Anniston. Wallace sought an opinion for the United States Supreme Court on whether the administration's actions were unconstitutional. The response cited U.S. Code Title X, Section 333, and concluded that, "purely preparatory measures and their alleged adverse general effects upon the plaintiffs afford no basis for the granting of any relief."
References
- "Birmingham riot of 1963" (May 12, 2014) Wikipedia - accessed June 18, 2014