Timeline of the Movement

Map courtesy of the Veterans of the Civil Rights Movement

This timeline is provide by the University of Mississippi Outreach services and The William Winter Institute for Racial Reconciliation.

May 4 CORE Freedom Ride begins from Washington D.C. to New Orleans to test Boynton v Virginia.
May 14 Freedom Riders attacked by mobs in Anniston, Alabama and Birmingham
May 17 Nashville students take up Freedom Ride.
May 20 Riders assaulted in Montgomery.
May 21-22 Riders besieged in Montgomery church; RFK sends federal marshals.
June-August Justice Department initiates talks with civil rights groups, foundations on beginning Voter Education Project (VEP).
July SCLC begins citizenship classes; Andrew J. Young hired to direct the program. Moses arrives in McComb.
September James Forman becomes SNCC’s Executive Secretary.
September 23 ICC, at RFK’s insistence, issues new rules ending discrimination in intersate travel, effective December 1, 1961.
September 25 Voter registration activist Herbert Lee killed in McComb, Mississippi.
October SNCC workers Charles Sherrod and Cordell Reagon arrive in Albany, Georgia.
November 17 Albany Movement formed
December 1 Albany “Freedom Riders” arrested.
December 11-15 Five hundred arrested in Albany.
December 16 MLK arrested in Albany
December 18 Albany truce; MLK leaves town.