Freedom In Selma Research Paper

The fight for their freedom began in Selma where Student Non Violent Coordinated Committee leaders took the initiative and began holding monthly voting clinics, showing people how to fill out the required form to vote because the registrar had a test and if they couldn't pass then they couldn't vote. Many African Americans were afraid to register to vote because of police brutality. On October 7, 1963, other SNCC workers came to Selma for a “Freedom Day.” The workers gathered along side would be voters at the courthouse to help them register (“Selma to Montgomery March.”). But Sheriff Jim Clark was also there with his deputies, they were armed with guns and clubs and they attacked news reporters that tried to get close to the scene. Nevertheless
pictures of how blacks were being treated by officers reached Washington. President Kennedy had attended several meetings, none of which dealt with helping African Americans receive the right to vote. In 1963 The Civil Rights Bill was sent to congress, it “held great promise” for ending discrimination in restaurants and other public places, but it still didn't give them the protected right to vote. After the bill's passage in June 1964, civil rights leaders asked president Johnson for further legislation guaranteeing the right to vote. After the passage of the Civil Rights Bill Blacks had the freedom to be seen in the same places as whites, Even so whites still attacked them and blacks were arrested.(Williams,253).