Anti Civil Rights Movement

During class, my group (Women of Wisdom) did a presentation on the anti Civil Rights movement. During the Civil Rights Era many people were opposed to equality for all. The Civil Rights Act of 1964, hailed by some as the most important legislation in American history, was signed into law 50 years ago. Although there were many people for this law, there were also people against it. During the civil rights movement, anybody who stood up for the rights of African Americans was a possible target for assassination. Just a few important people that were assassinated during this movement were, Medgar Evers, Malcolm X, MLK, RFK, and JFK. The slides that I presented were about George Wallace and his "Stand in the Schoolhouse Door." George Wallace was an American politician and the 45th Governor of Alabama. He is remembered for his Southern States’ Rights Democratic Party and his “Jim Crow” positions during the mid-20th century period of the Civil Rights Movement. In January of 1963, after Wallace was elected for Governor of Alabama, he famously stated in his inaugural address: “segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever.” On June 11, 1963, two African American students; Vivian Malone, and James A. Hood showed up at the University of Alabama for class. Meanwhile, George Wallace literally stood in front of the doorway in attempt to stop the enrollment of African American students as federal authorities tried to allow the students to enter. When Wallace refused to budge, President John F. Kennedy called for 100 troops from the Alabama National Guard to assist federal officials. Wallace then chose to step down rather than incite violence. Wallace survived an assassination attempt in Laurel, Maryland in 1972, perpetrated by Arthur Bremer, but remained wheelchair-bound until his death in 1998.