2. Assassination of Medgar Evers: On June 12, 1963, Medgar Evers, a prominent civil rights activist and the first field secretary for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in Mississippi, was assassinated outside his home in Jackson, Mississippi. Evers's death sparked outrage and increased national attention on the violence faced by civil rights activists in the South.
3. Birmingham Campaign: In the spring of 1963, the city of Birmingham, Alabama, became a major battleground in the civil rights movement. The Birmingham Campaign, led by Martin Luther King Jr. and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), used nonviolent direct action, such as sit-ins and marches, to challenge segregation and racial discrimination in the city. The campaign gained national attention due to the violent response from local authorities, including police commissioner Eugene "Bull" Connor, which resulted in the arrest of hundreds of protesters, the use of tear gas and fire hoses, and the bombing of a black church.
4. Desegregation of the University of Alabama: In June 1963, the University of Alabama admitted its first two black students, Vivian Malone Jones and James Hood, defying segregationist policies in the state. However, their enrollment was initially blocked by Governor George Wallace, who stood in the doorway of the university's admissions office. President John F. Kennedy responded by federalizing the Alabama National Guard and ordering them to protect the students and allow their admission. This event highlighted the ongoing resistance to desegregation and the federal government's role in enforcing equal rights.
5. Civil Rights Act of 1964: The events of 1963, including the March on Washington, the Birmingham Campaign, and the assassination of Medgar Evers, played a crucial role in building public support for federal civil rights legislation. They helped galvanize the civil rights movement and demonstrate the urgency of addressing racial discrimination. As a result, President John F. Kennedy submitted a comprehensive civil rights bill to Congress in June 1963, which eventually became the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This landmark legislation outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin in employment, public accommodations, and government programs.