Martin Luther King's Campaign
History: KS3, topic 21.1.16
Martin Luther King's Campaign in the North
The SCLC was shocked by the Watts Riots, and wanted to prove non-violent direct action still worked.
Chicago
- The SCLC was shocked by the Watts Riots, and wanted to prove non-violent direct action still worked.
- Martin Luther King was invited to Chicago to hold protests alongside the Coordinating Council of Community Organisations (CCCO) for fairer housing in 1966.
Tenants' associations
- The SCLC helped tenants' associations fight against segregated housing and unreasonably high rents, and started Operation Breadbasket to encourage businesses to employ more black workers.
- They also planned a Chicago Freedom Movement.
Riots
- However, many black politicians opposed the SCLC’s campaigns, and the SCLC didn’t really connect with ghetto gangs.
- Riots began before King’s planned march through white neighbourhoods could start.
- The SCLC was accused of encouraging them and state troops had to be called in to reassert order.
Result
- The March went ahead and produced a violent white response, but the media weren’t as supportive as they had been in the South.
- An agreement was made on fair housing prices between Mayor Daley, the Chicago Freedom Movement and the Chicago Real Estate Board, so Martin Luther King and the SCLC left.
Successes
- Operation Breadbasket helped increase black employment in white companies.
- There had been a peaceful protest and an agreement was made.
Failures
- King had not been able to stop the violence on both sides.
- Mayor Daley ignored the agreement he made after King left. Housing prices stayed the same
- The federal government didn’t do anything about Daley’s backtracking because King publicly disagreed with President Johnson’s involvement in the Vietnam War.
FBI involvement
- During the Civil Rights movement, the FBI conducted covert operations called COINTELPRO with the aim of disrupting the movement, which they felt was a risk to national security.
- These operations included intimidation tactics like surveillance, alleged blackmail, threats, and intimidation.
Test yourself on Martin Luther King's Campaign
What did the SCLC start in order to encourage businesses to employ more black workers?
Who made an agreement on fair housing prices in Chicago?