Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights facts for kids

The Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights (ACMHR) was an important group in Birmingham, Alabama. It worked for civil rights during the Civil Rights Movement. The ACMHR helped organize protests and filed lawsuits. Their goal was to end segregation (separation of people by race) in Birmingham and across Alabama. Fred Shuttlesworth, a brave pastor, led the group from 1956 to 1969. The ACMHR's biggest success was helping to plan the important Birmingham campaign in 1963. They worked with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) during this time.

How the ACMHR Started

Fred Shuttlesworth was a fiery pastor at Bethel Baptist Church. He was already a key leader in the Birmingham civil rights efforts. He had tried to get the Birmingham Police Department to hire Black officers. He also supported Autherine Lucy in her attempt to integrate the University of Alabama.

In 1956, Alabama's Attorney General, John Patterson, managed to ban the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) from operating in Alabama. This was a big setback for civil rights. Because of this ban, Shuttlesworth gathered 11 other pastors and community leaders. They met at A. G. Gaston's funeral chapel. Their goal was to create a new group. This group would "press forward persistently for Freedom and Democracy." They wanted to remove "any forms of Second Class Citizenship" from society.

The group met on June 4, 1956. They wrote a "Declaration of Principles" with seven main points. These points explained their beliefs and goals.

• We are free citizens and want to fight for freedom and democracy. We want to end all forms of "second-class citizenship."
  
• We are not being told what to do by outsiders. These are our own beliefs and our will to be free. We will be calm, firm, peaceful, and kind.
  
• We believe in our courts. But we see that decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court are often ignored.
  
• We believe in states' rights, but we think human rights are most important. States should protect everyone's rights.
  
• We agree that all public places should be open to everyone equally. We hope officials will make these changes peacefully.
  
• We praise the efforts of civil rights activists everywhere. We especially admire Black people in Montgomery and Tallahassee for their brave, peaceful actions.
  
• "Gradualism" means moving forward slowly but surely. It does not mean delaying or avoiding change. We want a beginning Now! We have already waited 100 years.
  
• We will never be enemies of white people. We are all Americans. We will never bomb homes or hurt anyone. But we must march toward complete freedom with determination. We seek guidance from God and understanding from all people.

The ACMHR officially began at a large meeting. About 1,000 enthusiastic Black people gathered at Alford's Sardis Baptist Church. This was the night after the first meeting. Shuttlesworth was chosen as the group's president. He spoke about unfairness and violence in the South. He told the crowd that "hope is not dead. Hope is alive here tonight!" Another meeting at Smith's New Pilgrim Baptist Church brought in more members. One of these was Lola Hendricks, who became a long-time secretary for the ACMHR.

Fighting for Equal Rights

The ACMHR used similar methods to the NAACP. They filed lawsuits to challenge segregation laws. They also copied the Montgomery Improvement Association by organizing boycotts and peaceful protests.

Challenging Bus Rules

The ACMHR's first big public action was against segregated bus service. After a court ruling ended bus segregation in Montgomery, Alabama, ACMHR leaders asked Birmingham to do the same. When the city refused, Shuttlesworth planned a peaceful protest. Hundreds of African Americans boarded buses and sat in "Whites only" seats.

On December 25, 1956, the night before this protest, Shuttlesworth's house was bombed. He was blasted into his basement but was mostly unharmed. This made him feel that he was meant to lead and gave him great courage. The protest happened as planned. Twenty-two people were arrested, which led to ACMHR lawsuits.

In February 1957, the ACMHR became a founding member of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). Shuttlesworth was named the SCLC's secretary. The next month, he and his wife, Ruby, challenged segregated waiting rooms at the Birmingham Terminal Station. They boarded their train without trouble. However, a white man who had greeted them was attacked by a mob outside the station.

Integrating Schools

On September 9, 1957, Shuttlesworth tried to enroll two of his daughters at J. H. Phillips High School. He was met by an angry mob. He was hurt and went to the hospital. But he still left to attend a meeting that night. He spoke about nonviolence and faith. He promised to keep trying until schools were integrated. He also filed lawsuits against the city's school board.

Mass Meetings and Support

By 1958, at least 55 churches were active in the ACMHR. They held weekly meetings filled with emotional stories, music, and powerful speeches. These meetings raised money for the group's lawsuits. They also got money from speaking events in other cities. Some white supporters, who couldn't openly join, also helped.

In its first three years, the ACMHR spent over $40,000 on legal fees. They worked with Black lawyers like Arthur Shores and Oscar Adams. By 1965, the ACMHR had filed more federal lawsuits that reached the Supreme Court of the United States than almost any other group. The NAACP's legal defense fund often helped with these cases.

Groups against integration, like the Ku Klux Klan, threatened and attacked civil rights supporters. They bombed churches and homes. Most of these attacks were not punished. Despite these dangers, the ACMHR grew. Their Movement Choir, started in 1960, helped inspire people at meetings. Volunteers guarded churches and leaders' homes. Police detectives often recorded the meetings.

The Freedom Rides

In 1961, the ACMHR helped organize the Freedom Rides in Alabama. These rides were sponsored by the Congress for Racial Equality. The rides faced terrible violence. One bus was firebombed in Anniston. Another was met by a mob in Birmingham with no police around. ACMHR volunteers took injured riders to the hospital. They also kept riders safe in their homes.

The Birmingham Campaign

Shuttlesworth and the ACMHR asked Martin Luther King Jr. and Ralph Abernathy to come to Birmingham in 1963. They wanted King to lead large protests. Shuttlesworth wanted to wait until the 1963 Birmingham mayoral election was over. He didn't want to accidentally help candidate Bull Connor, who was against civil rights.

The day after the election, which was won by Albert Boutwell, the ACMHR shared a "Birmingham Manifesto." This paper explained the campaign's goals and demands. Even some moderate leaders in Birmingham opposed the campaign. They felt the new city leaders should have a chance to make changes. King's famous "Letter from Birmingham Jail" was a direct response to white religious leaders who asked for patience.

During the campaign, Shuttlesworth was an emotional leader for the local ACMHR members. King and Abernathy worked to bring more people into the movement. Wyatt Tee Walker of the SCLC planned the early parts of the campaign. Later, James Bevel of SCLC, along with Birmingham activists like A. D. King and Edward Gardner, helped. The movement's leaders met regularly at the A. G. Gaston Motel to plan and talk to the press.

Protests against segregated stores and lunch counters continued. When progress seemed slow, Bevel encouraged young people to join the demonstrations. This helped "fill the jails" with peaceful protesters. The images and news footage of police dogs and fire hoses used against these young people shocked the world.

A truce was announced on May 10. But bombings continued. On September 15, the 16th Street Baptist Church was bombed, killing four young girls. The events in Birmingham made it clear that new laws were needed. This led to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Later Years

In 1961, Shuttlesworth moved his family to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he became a pastor at Revelation Baptist Church. He traveled between Ohio and Alabama to continue leading the Birmingham movement. After the major events in Birmingham, the relationships between Shuttlesworth and other national civil rights leaders became strained.

In 1969, Shuttlesworth stepped down as president of the ACMHR. Edward Gardner took over his role.