How Did Kennedy Support The Civil Rights Movement

In 1961, John F. Kennedy became president. His constant claim of Eisenhower neglecting “the needs and aspirations of the African people,” along with his actions, caused 70% of African Americans to vote for Kennedy (jfk.org). Due to the high support of African Americans, they had greater expectations for Kennedy to make a difference in the civil rights movement. During this time, African Americans had no voting rights and were segregated from whites in public places and facilities. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) was in jail for protesting in Atlanta, Georgia, so Kennedy took this into his own hands and called Dr. King’s wife to express his concerns. Meanwhile, Robert Kennedy called the judge to safely secure the release of Dr. King (csmonitor.com). This personal intervention led to the approval of Dr. King and his many supporters.
Although Kennedy had all their support, the civil rights movement had many high risks.
Kennedy did not want to push the civil rights movement in fear of losing support from the southern legislation. Keeping this in mind, Kennedy hired African Americans to available positions in the administration. Doing this would strengthen the commission for the movement. Kennedy made sure to speak out about school segregation. Meanwhile, Kennedy’s brother, the Attorney General Robert Kennedy, put his main attention towards voting rights. Although John Kennedy was taking small steps towards the voting rights, African Americans all over the nation could not wait. Eventually the administration had no choice but to act. In May 1961 the Congress of Racial Equality, led by James Farmer, organized the Freedom Riders to break segregation on transportation. This caused them to get arrested in North Carolina, beaten in South Carolina, and in Alabama a bus was burned and attacked the riders with baseball bats. Robert Kennedy sent about 400 federal marshals to protect the freedom
riders. In 1962 an African American was denied admission into the University of Mississippi after attempting to register four times. Federal marshals were sent to accompany Meredith to the campus so he can register for classes. A riot came and 2 people died while dozens were injured. President Kennedy sent federal troops to the campus. The next day Meredith registered and attended his first class. In 1963 African American kids were marching in protest in Birmingham. The city Commissioner Eugene Connor used high pressure fire water hoses to make them stopped and arrested nearly a thousand kids. All this was being broadcasted on the news nationwide. President Kennedy sent several troops to the Alabama air base, and his administration sped up the drafting for the civil rights bill. In August 1963 Americans celebrated the hundredth anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation. All races joined the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. On August 28, 1963, Martin Luther King gave his I Have a Dream speech at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. In the fall of 1963, the civil rights bill won the endorsement of House and Senate Republican leaders. On November 22, 1963 President John F. Kennedy was assassinated while riding in a motorcade with his wife through the Dealey Plaza in Dallas, Texas. The civil rights bill was left in the hands of the vice president Lyndon B. Johnson. The Civil Rights Act was passed in honor of President Kennedy.