What was southern christian leadership conference

The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. Martin Luther King, Jr. Charles Steele Jr. Contribute to Our Causes Give Today.

Volunteer With Us Get Started. Discover More Causes. February 27, Democratic Presidential candidates propose new voting rights act, legalizing marijuana, national referendums on major issues, Executive Orders and other measured to improve quality of life for African-Americans… read more.

Justice For Girls. Kingian NonViolence Training. Latest News. First Lady, Cathelean Steele receiving Lady Legacy Award Christian Women from across the globe will be united to acknowledge the accomplishments of women who have significantly contributed to enhancing the quality of life. In the relatively protected spaces of classrooms located in the Black community, students and teachers discussed ways in which they could effect change and address locally-defined problems.

Through these classes, students learned more than literacy; they began to craft their own understandings of first-class citizenship. In and , local Mississippians organized six citizenship schools in the Clarksdale area. Citizenship schools provided an essential educational component for the emerging voter registration campaign in the Delta. Joined by thousands of people, many of them SCLC members, the demonstrations eventually turned violent. The SCLC, wishing to reach its goals nonviolently, called for their end.

The rallies, sparked by the refusal of some Savannah movie theaters to desegregate, led to a more general integration agreement won by August The arrest prompted protests by Black Georgians, followed by turbulence. Nine weeks of weekly demonstrations amid mounting tension ensued, and finally a biracial committee was formed to try to resolve the situation.

A civil suit was brought against the sheriff and a number of others; although the case was initially lost, the SCLC brought it before a federal appeals court, where it was partially won. Four years later, he was named executive vice president but resigned in to run for Congress.

The assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. In , when Abernathy resigned to run for Congress, Lowery succeeded him as president. In addition, ongoing trouble within the SCLC, including declining membership, financial difficulties, and political infighting, weakened the organization.

Courtesy of Stuart A. In August Shuttlesworth was elected president, only to resign from office three months later. The board elected Charles Steele Jr. King, however, never reached an agreement with the SCLC board regarding the terms of her presidency, and in January she announced that she would not accept the position.

Howard Creecy next assumed the presidency and served in that capacity until his death in July Martin Luther King Jr. Vivian, who was named interim president. Steele returned as president in July Although the SCLC has not forgotten its original goals, the focus has shifted to new causes, including health care, job-site safety, and justice in environmental and prison system matters, as well as fair treatment for refugees.

The organization publishes its own magazine and continues to work for civil rights and the enhancement of quality of life. Cooksey, Elizabeth. Cooksey, E. Southern Christian Leadership Conference. In New Georgia Encyclopedia.