Leader of the Civil Rights

Movement in the 1950’s and 60’s

King Facts

1955, Montgomery, Alabama

Rosa Parks was arrested for not giving up her seat on the bus

Dr. King led the Montgomery Bus BoycottBlacks refused to ride the bus until the company agreed

to let them sit anywhere. Everyone walked to work, shop, and school.

After 1 year, they won.

How did the Civil Rights Movement work?People held marches, boycotts, and sit-ins.

MarchesPeople got together and led a long parade through the streets

in order to protest. They wanted to bring attention to injustice (things that were

wrong). For example, blacks and whites could not play together, go to school

together, eat in the same restaurant, or have the same jobs.

Sit-insSometimes, black people would go and sit

down in a restaurant

where the people refused to serve them.

The police would be

called. Many people went to jail because

they stood up for what was right.

Attended by 250,000 people in the struggle for freedom.

Dr. King made a famous speech.

Excerpt from the “I Have a Dream Speech” by Dr. King, 1963,

given at the March on Washington.

Ended racial discrimination. People would be allowed to have the right to vote, go to school together, eat in the same restaurants, get good jobs, and be friends. This was a day of celebration.

Dr. King showed the world the power of nonviolent social change.

People could make things better without fighting and killing each other.

King’s birthday was first observed as a holiday in 1986. We have no school on this day.