Southern Christian Leadership Council

What was the Southern Christian Leadership Council?

The Southern Christian Leadership Council was a civil rights organisation that wanted to redeem the 'soul of America' through non-violent resistance. It was set up to coordinate church-based protest.

When was the SCLC set up?

The SCLC was set up in January 1957.

Who were the leaders of the SCLC?

The SCLC was led by its first president, Martin Luther King, and Ralph Abernathy, a Baptist minister.

What were the main efforts of the SCLC?

The SCLC carried out 2 key activities to further its campaign for equal civil rights.

• ❖ The SCLC used non-violent mass action to protest against segregation.
• ❖ They gave African Americans training to enable them to pass the voter registration tests.

What events was the SCLC involved in?

There were 4 main events the SCLC was involved in:

• ❖ It organised a voter registration and education project called the Crusade for Citizenship in 1957.
• ❖ It helped to organise the March on Washington in 1963.
• ❖ The Selma March to Montgomery in 1965.
• ❖ It organised the Poor People's Campaign in 1967.