Veterans of the Civil Rights Movement -- Images of a Peoples' Movement

The Children's Crusade

Birmingham — 1963

We shall not,
we shall not be moved

Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth leading marchers in prayer just before they are arrested in early April.

16th Street Baptist Church — Movement Headquarters.

(Birmingham Civil Rights Institute photo.)

Police dogs attack non-violent marcher.

Dr. King and Rev. Abernathy under arrest on Good Friday.

Thousands of men, women, boys, and girls, are arrested for violating Birmingham's segregation laws.

(Birmingham Civil Rights Institute photo.)

Young non-violent warriors under arrest.

With the jails full, student protesters are incarcerated in buildings at the county fair grounds.

On the orders of Bull Connor, high-pressure firehoses are used against young demonstrators.

[photographer unknown]

The courage of the children inspires their elders.

Mass meeting, Bethel Baptist Church, 1963.

"I was really, really involved. I didn't realize at the time how dangerous the situation was. The only thing I was concerned with was that I wanted my freedom, I wanted to be able to go where I wanted, like everyone else did."

— Dannela Bryant, Civil Rights Movement: A Photographic History

But other children are being taught other lessons...

In the deep south the KKK operates openly with the support of police and politicians. Parents bring their children to public Klan rallies to teach another generation the lessons of hate and bigotry.

September 15, 1963

Seventeen days after the March on Washington the Klan Strikes Back

[photographer unknown]
Addie Mae Collins (14)
Cynthia Wesley (14)
Carole Robertson (14)
Denise McNair (11)

[© Matt Herron]

PREVIOUS

NEXT

The Children's Crusade

Birmingham — 1963

We shall not, we shall not be moved

But other children are being taught other lessons...

September 15, 1963

PREVIOUS

NEXT

We shall not,
we shall not be moved