Campaign C, 1963

What was the Campaign C?

The aim of Campaign C was to end segregation by provoking white violence to gain support for civil rights legislation. The 'C' stood for confrontation.

When did Campaign C occur?

Campaign C happened in April and May, 1963.

Where was Campaign C held?

Campaign C took place in Birmingham, Alabama.

Why did the campaigners choose Birmingham for Campaign C?

Birmingham was chosen for 3 key reasons:

• ❖ It had not desegregated any facilities.
• ❖ Its police chief, Bull Connor, was also well known for using violence against African Americans. He had failed to stop the KKK attacking the Freedom Riders in 1961.
• ❖ Birmingham was nicknamed 'Bombingham' because of its reputation for violence against African Americans. It was hoped the civil rights campaign would result in a reaction from the white community and gain media attention.

Who was involved in Campaign C?

There were 3 key groups involved:

• ❖ The SNCC.
• ❖ The SCLC and Martin Luther King.
• ❖ The Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights (ACMHR).

What methods were used for Campaign C?

The campaign's methods included sit-ins, boycotts, peaceful marches and the training of young demonstrators, as most of the adults were in jail.

What happened during Campaign C?

There were 5 important events during Campaign C:

• ❖ A march which resulted in mass arrests on 3rd April, 1963.
• ❖ The organisers trained children in non-violent methods.
• ❖ On 2nd May, the children marched during the Children's Crusade; 956 of them were arrested and put in jail.
• ❖ On 3rd May, more children marched and the police used police dogs and fire hoses on them. Their actions were caught on camera and shown across the nation.
• ❖ President Kennedy intervened as rioting took place and sent federal troops to Birmingham on 12th May.

What happened during the first protest of Campaign C?

The first march began on 3rd April. Many protesters were arrested, including Martin Luther King.

What happened during the children's marches in Campaign C?

On 2nd May, a children's march took place involving around 1,000 young people. There was another children's march the following day, and this time the police used dogs and powerful water hoses in response.

What were the results of Campaign C?

There were 5 main consequences of the campaign:

• ❖ On 10th May the senior citizens' committee, responsible for many of Birmingham's businesses, desegregated its lunch counters and allowed African Americans to be employed.
• ❖ Over 200 journalists and photographers captured the police brutality. Media reports horrified the nation and the world, and people felt sympathy for the protesters.
• ❖ This led to President Kennedy's intervention in support of the civil rights movement. He addressed the nation, promising he would 'ask Congress to act, to make a commitment it has not fully made in this century to the proposition that race has no place in American life or laws'.
• ❖ It created the momentum needed for the organisation of the March on Washington in August 1963.
• ❖ There was an increase in KKK attacks and NAACP leader, Medgar Evers, was murdered in June 1963.