User:LBaugustana/Children's Crusade (1963)

Kelly Ingram Park was originally known as West Park but was changed in 1932 to honor a World War 1 soldier. This park is in Birmingham, Alabama, and was one of the main sites of the violent attacks on the Children's Crusade of 1963. On each end, you face either the 16th Street Baptist Church or the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. As you walk through the park on the trails, specifically the Freedom Trail, you will come across various monuments. There is a monument of a policeman holding a young boy by the shirt collar while having his police dog in his other hand. At one point in the trail, you will walk through two walls with police dogs coming out at you from each side. This park not only memorializes the children's crusade, but also the other civil rights struggles in Birmingham. There is a statue of Martin Luther King Jr. and a monument for the four girls who were killed in the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church.

James Bevel- Tristan (Major)
James Bevel was a very prominent figure within the civil rights movement, and credited by Martin Luther King jr. with initiating the children's crusade. Born in Itta Bena, Mississippi on October 19th, 1936 he was working as a US Naval Reserve. He later became ordained as a baptist minister in 1959. He played a pivotal role in organizing the Children's Crusade during the Civil Rights Movement in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1963. He was a prominent leader and strategist within the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). Bevel believed that involving children in nonviolent protests would garner sympathy and attention for the cause. He coordinated training sessions and encouraged children to participate in marches and demonstrations, leading to one of the most impactful moments of the Civil Rights Movement when Birmingham's police force violently confronted the young protesters with dogs and fire hoses. This event drew national and international outrage, ultimately contributing to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Event - Evelyn (Major)
The children were carrying their toothbrushes, school books, and various other things to keep with them during the protests. While the children marched, they sang freedom songs and held signs. The children were praised by the onlookers. The policemen were astounded to learn there were at least a thousand children marching. The children were arrested without a fight. They filled up whatever vehicle they could, even school buses, and were taken to jail. Over 900 students were arrested over the course of the protests. Martin Luther King Jr. gave a speech at Sixteenth Street Baptist Church. In his speech, he told the parents of the arrested children, “Don’t worry about your children; they are going to be alright. Don’t hold the back if they want to go to jail, for they are not only doing a job for themselves but for all of America and for all of mankind”. [2]

On May 3, students once again marched. As they were grouping up together, the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church was barricaded by policemen. Students who tried to get out of the barricade were attacked forcefully, whether it was by police dogs or fire hoses. Many students lost their clothes due to the power of the water. [2]

Bull Conner-Tristan (major)
Bull Connor, whose actual full name was Theophilus Eugene Connor, was a prominent figure in Birmingham, Alabama. During the Civil Rights Movement he was the Commissioner of Public Safety which allowed him lots of control over the cities police, and fire departments. Bull Connor was known for his opposition to desegregation and civil rights activism, and he used his position of power to brutally enforce racial segregation and suppress protests against it. He vehemently opposed the Civil Rights Movement and authorized the use of brutal tactics against protesters, including high-pressure fire hoses and police dogs. Connor's actions garnered widespread condemnation and brought international attention to the injustices faced by African Americans in the South. His aggressive response to the peaceful protests, particularly against children, galvanized support for the Civil Rights Movement and contributed to the eventual dismantling of segregationist policies.

Event (Rewriting, and adding information) - Tristan (2 minor, and major edit)
On May 2, 1963, the halls of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church echoed with the footsteps of thousands of children, united in their resolve to challenge the racist and oppressive segregation laws prevailing in Alabama. With determination these young activists gathered to make their voices heard, bravely standing against the injustices of their time. The protest was facilitated by the help of members of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights (ACMHR), and local activists such as Reverend James Bevel and Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth.

However authorities began to fight back against this non-violent approach, this included the use of police officers who utilized fire hoses and police dogs to intimidate and disperse the young demonstrators. The authorities also made numerous arrests in an attempt to quell the protests and maintain the status quo of segregation within Birmingham. Although these acts of force against non-violent child protesters caught national attention it only furthered the resolve of many, and allowed the protesters to remain disciplined and drew attention to the injustice of segregation and garnering widespread public support for their cause.

Federal Response (adding onto)- Tristan (minor)
President Kennedy supported civil rights but was held back from introducing his bill, and King ran out of options. He looked to Birmingham, where African Americans lived segregated and in fear as second-class citizens. The federal response to the Children's Crusade in Birmingham, Alabama, was largely influenced by the widespread media coverage of the brutal treatment of the young protesters by local authorities, particularly Bull Connor's use of fire hoses and police dogs. The images and footage of these events shocked the nation and generated significant public outcry. In response, President John F. Kennedy intervened, expressing his concern over the situation and initiating negotiations between civil rights leaders and local officials. Additionally, the federal government dispatched officials to monitor the situation and ensure the protection of the protesters' constitutional rights. Ultimately, the events in Birmingham contributed to the urgency for comprehensive civil rights legislation, culminating in the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Background - Logan (Minor)
Malcolm X and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. opposed the Birmingham Children's Crusade despite its nonviolent intentions. They feared that the participation of children in the peaceful protest against segregation would subject them to unnecessary violence and endanger their safety.

Opposition (adding to a paragraph) Logan (minor)
In response to the mass arrests of the children, Commissioner of Public Safety Bull Connor finally ordered police to use police dogs, high-pressure fire hoses, and batons and arrest these children if "deemed" necessary. Despite this harsh treatment, children still participated in the marches. On May 5th, protestors marched to the city jail where many young people were being held and continued practicing their tactics of nonviolent demonstrations. Jail cells were filled with children, and there were not enough police to manage the children.

On May 2nd, 1963, thousands of children gathered at Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in place of their parents, who, under Alabama law and social oppression, faced harsh penalties such as loss of their jobs and jail time if they protested the racist and unjust segregation laws of Alabama.

Opposition (Adding details, and rewriting) - Logan (Major)
However, authorities adapted to his nonviolent approach. SCLC's James Bevel took drastic measures before Dr. King abandoned the Birmingham campaign because he got arrested for violating a state circuit injunction against protests. Dr. King and a majority of other African Americans got arrested for parading without a permit. Therefore, children became more involved in the marches even though Dr. King insisted that children stay out of the marches because of potential violence. However, during the march, the real South showed its ugly side, giving Dr. King and the Civil Rights Movement the jolt and leverage it needed to accomplish its ultimate goal. Therefore, the Children's Crusade was a pivotal stepping stone in the right direction. The event led to President John F. Kennedy expressing his support for federal civil rights legislation and the eventual passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Background (minor adding paragraph) - Evelyn (Major)
Although the Civil Rights Movement had been active under Dr. Martin Luther King's leadership, little progress was being made following the dramatic gains of 1960 and 1961. After some major legal victories, the movement was beginning to stagnate. President Kennedy supported civil rights, but held back from introducing his own bill and King was running out of options. He looked to Birmingham, where African Americans lived segregated and in fear as second class citizens. In January 1963, Dr. King arrived to organize nonviolent protests such as marches and sit-ins. The goal; get a reaction from the racist officials that would not only spotlight the injustice of the south but also gain national attention and support. From May 2nd all the way to May 10th, thousands of students marched the streets of Birmingham. With the intent to fight against the racial injustice dealt against African Americans. Notably the marches got the reaction they wanted from officials causing people to sway away from the people in power. Causing there to be a significant amount of media that was broadcasted to people all across the country to see just how intolerable these officials were. The marches provided an essential standpoint, and brought to prominence the problem with racial inequality causing public opinion to sway more towards support of equal rights legislation which eventually led to the 1964 civil rights act.

Aftermath (added paragraph) - Tristan (Major and 2 minor)
After the march, the Civil Rights Movement regained momentum, and on August 28 Dr. King led the March on Washington where he delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech. But on September 15, the Ku Klux Klan bombed the 16th Street Baptist Church, killing four African American girls. After the children's crusade President Kennedy began to express his support for civil rights legislation, the eventually turned into the 1964 Civil rights act that was passed by Kennedys then Vice president President Lyndon B. Johnson. This was an extremely big victory for the Civil Rights Movement made possible because of the children of Birmingham.

Minor information added on bombing- Logan
The children who died in the church bombing were Addie Mae Collins, Cynthia Wesley, and Carole Robertson, all 14, and Denise McNair, 11. The Ku Klux Klan members who committed the bombing were all eventually convicted for their part in the bombing that occurred on September 15, 1963. The children's crusade allowed for a shift in public support for major civil rights legislation.

The March Event and early aftermath of the event - Logan (Major)
Baptist Church in place of their parents, who, under Alabama law and social oppression. The parents were at risk of facing harsh penalties, such as loss of their jobs and jail time, if they protested the racist and unjust segregation laws of Alabama. Therefore, the children took the matter into their own and marched down the streets of Birmingham, Alabama. However, Dr. King didn't like the idea of children leading this civil rights movement because he was worried about the potential violence on the children. The influence, however, that Dr. King had however didn't stop the protests and marches. That involved over a thousand children marching down the streets of Birmingham, Alabama. During the march, police detained over 600 children and transported them to the Birmingham Jail. The event became mainstream and influenced potentially more African Americans to protest throughout other Cities. This lead to the President. Kennedy went live on June 11 and announced his support of federal legislation to ban racial discrimination.

Minor grammer and active voice edit - Logan
However, authorities adapted to his nonviolent approach. SCLC's James Bevel took drastic measures before Dr. King abandoned Birmingham.

(Minor) edit improved the grammer of the first paragraph by adding punctuations and clarity. -Logan
The Children's Crusade, or Children's March, was a march that involved over 1,000 school students in Birmingham, Alabama, on May 2–10, 1963. Initiated and organized by Rev. James Bevel, he had the goal to march and walk downtown to talk to the mayor about segregation in their city. Many children left their schools and were arrested, set free, and then arrested again the next day. The marches, however, were stopped by the head of police, Bull Connor, who brought fire hoses to ward off the children and set police dogs after the children. This event compelled President John F. Kennedy to publicly support federal civil rights legislation and eventually led to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.