Children's Crusade (1963) facts for kids

The Children's Crusade, also known as the Children's March, was a big protest by over 5,000 school students. It happened in Birmingham, Alabama, on May 2–3, 1963. Reverend James Bevel helped start and organize this important event.

The main goal of the march was for students to walk downtown. They wanted to talk to the mayor about unfair segregation laws in their city. Many children bravely left their schools to join the protest. They were often arrested, then set free, and arrested again the next day. The head of the police, Bull Connor, tried to stop the marches. This powerful event made President John F. Kennedy publicly support new civil rights laws. It eventually helped lead to the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Some people, like Malcolm X, worried that the protest might put the children in danger.

Who Was James Bevel?

King's main advisor for the Children's Crusade was Reverend James L. Bevel. He was a Navy veteran and a minister from Itta Bena, Mississippi. Bevel was deeply inspired by old religious teachings. He often wore a Jewish skullcap.

Bevel learned from James Lawson, who believed strongly in peaceful protest. Lawson taught students how to fight against "racial injustice" without violence. Bevel saw a clear difference between white oppression and Black people "accepting the status quo."

Before the Birmingham Children's Crusade, Bevel spoke to young students. He held nonviolent training sessions on Saturdays. He told them, "You are responsible for segregation... because you have not stood up." He explained that no one can oppress you if you don't cooperate. He said it was their job to break away from the oppressor. Bringing young people into the Civil Rights Movement was a major turning point. It showed how deeply racism and unfair segregation were part of society.

Why Involve Children?

Involving children in the Civil Rights Movement was a big topic of discussion. Especially in the South, African American parents were very protective of their kids. They had to teach them about racism from a young age. So, letting their children be on the front lines of the Birmingham Children's Crusade was a difficult decision.

Despite these worries from families, thousands of young people joined the protest. They turned out over the next week to make their voices heard.

Day 1: The First March

The first day of the march was May 2, 1963. Reverend Bevel called it "D-Day." This name was a reference to the famous Normandy Invasion in World War II.

On the morning of the protest, some children went straight to the 16th Street Baptist Church. This church was located in downtown Birmingham. Many other students went to school first. Later in the morning, they walked out of their classes. This made their protest even more impactful.

Eventually, almost a thousand school children gathered. They were between six and eighteen years old. They met at Kelly Ingram Park, 16th Street Baptist Church, and Metropolitan AME Zion Church. From there, they began their march to city hall.

The young people were organized into groups. As one group faced police and barricades, they would be arrested. Then, another group would come out from the church. This seemed endless to the police. One officer asked how many more children were in the church. When he heard "at least a thousand," he was shocked. By the end of the first day, over 900 students had been arrested. Parents were encouraged not to pay bail.

Some people criticized Martin Luther King Jr. for using children in the protests. King replied that it helped children "develop a sense of their own stake in freedom and justice." Sadly, the 16th Street Baptist Church was bombed just four months later, on September 15, 1963.

Day 2: More Protests

Day 2 was called "Double D-Day." Bull Connor allowed police to use powerful fire hoses and attack dogs on the children. The kids were again protesting in the streets of downtown Birmingham.

The fire hoses were strong enough to push through the lines of peaceful protesters. The attack dogs scattered the organized groups. This turned the crowds into a frantic scene. At one point, Connor locked the remaining 500-1000 marchers inside the 16th Street Baptist Church. He was running out of space in the jail. This was exactly what King and Bevel had hoped for. Eventually, organizers told everyone to go home. An additional 500-800 students were jailed that day.

"Double D-Day" is seen as the event that truly united Black Birmingham. It made them raise their voices against the unfair segregation. King's words to worried parents showed the protesters' serious attitude. He said, "Your daughters and sons are in jail... don't worry about them. They are suffering for what they believe, and they are suffering to make this nation a better nation."

What Happened Next?

On May 10, 1963, the protesters and Birmingham city officials reached an agreement. This agreement meant that all public places in Birmingham would no longer be segregated.

This march by thousands of elementary, middle, and high school students was one of the largest in the country. It eventually led to the famous March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in August 1963.