March Against Fear facts for kids

The March Against Fear was a very important event during the Civil Rights Movement in 1966. It took place in the southern United States. Activist James Meredith started the march on June 5, 1966. He planned to walk alone from Memphis, Tennessee, to Jackson, Mississippi. This journey would take him through the Mississippi Delta.

Meredith's goal was to show that racism was still a big problem in Mississippi. This was true even after new civil rights laws were passed. He also wanted to encourage African Americans in the state to register and vote. He invited only individual black men to join him. He did not want it to be a huge event with many famous groups.

On the second day of his walk, June 6, 1966, Meredith was shot. A white sniper named James Aubrey Norvell wounded him. Meredith had to go to the hospital for treatment.

After the shooting, major civil rights groups decided to continue the march. They wanted to finish it in Meredith's name. Groups like the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) joined in. The state of Mississippi promised to protect the marchers.

The different groups worked together to help people register to vote. They helped more than 4,000 African Americans sign up to vote along the march route. Some people marched for a short time, while others stayed for the whole event.

During the march, Stokely Carmichael, a leader from SNCC, introduced the idea of Black Power. Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. also took part. His presence brought many people out to support the march. As the march continued, more and more people joined. Finally, about 15,000 mostly black marchers entered Jackson on June 26. This was the largest civil rights march in Mississippi's history. The march helped African Americans in the state continue to organize and get involved in politics.

The March Against Fear: A Journey for Justice

Why the March Began

James Meredith was the first African American student at the University of Mississippi. He was disappointed that changes were happening slowly. This was even after important civil rights laws passed in 1964 and 1965. So, he decided to start a solo "March Against Fear." He wanted to walk from Memphis, Tennessee, to Jackson, Mississippi.

Meredith wanted to show the ongoing racial unfairness in the Mississippi Delta. This area had a large black population. His journey was about 220 miles long. He only wanted black men to join him. He also did not want it to become a big media event with white participants.

A Solo Walk Turns Into a Movement

The Shooting of James Meredith

On the second day of the march, a white sniper shot James Meredith. The sniper was later identified as James Aubrey Norvell. He stepped out of a wooded area and shot Meredith three times. Meredith was hurt and fell to the road. People quickly got an ambulance for him.

Meredith was not badly injured, but he had to go to the hospital. He could not continue the march as he had planned. Norvell was later caught by the police.

Civil Rights Leaders Take Over

When they heard about the shooting, other civil rights leaders stepped in. These included Martin Luther King Jr. from SCLC and Stokely Carmichael from SNCC. They decided to continue the march in Meredith's name. Other groups like the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) and the Medical Committee for Human Rights (MCHR) also joined. The Deacons for Defense and Justice from Louisiana provided armed protection for the marchers.

Many ordinary people, both black and white, came to participate. They came from all over the country. The marchers often slept outdoors or in large tents. Local black communities usually provided them with food. News reporters followed the march, and it was covered by national media. Along the way, the different civil rights groups worked together. They tried to achieve their goals, even though they sometimes had different ideas.

Key Moments Along the Way

Challenges and Support

SNCC and the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party (MFDP) worked hard. They wanted to help black communities in the Delta organize and register to vote. Many black people had not registered to vote. They were still afraid due to unfair rules and threats in the Jim Crow society.

The march grew slowly, with support from black communities. Some white people also showed support. However, other white people were hostile. They would yell and threaten the marchers. Sometimes, they drove very close to them. Marchers from other states were shocked by the strong hate they saw. This was especially true in places like Philadelphia and Canton.

Mississippi Governor Paul Johnson, Jr. promised to protect the marchers. He said they had to obey the law. But sometimes, police and marchers had tense moments. Local black communities and their churches were very helpful. They gave marchers food, places to stay, and rest.

The "Black Power" Speech

On June 16, 1966, the marchers arrived in Greenwood, Mississippi. Stokely Carmichael was arrested there for being on public property. He was held for several hours. When he rejoined the marchers, he gave his famous "Black Power" speech. He said that black people needed to build their own political and economic power. This would help them become independent. He used this chance to share his message with a national audience through the media.

Martin Luther King Jr. returned to the march after a trip to Chicago. He saw that there were some disagreements between the older and newer civil rights groups. Marchers began shouting SNCC's "Black Power" slogan. They also used SCLC's "Freedom Now!" slogan.

The Canton Incident

In Canton, Mississippi, on June 23, marchers tried to set up tents at a school. The Mississippi Highway Patrol and other police used tear gas on them. This went against the governor's promise to protect them. Several marchers were hurt in this attack. Members of the Human Rights Medical Committee helped find and care for the wounded. The marchers found safety at a Catholic mission. The sisters there helped them, especially those who were hurt. The next night, the marchers returned to the school grounds without trouble.

The Grand Finale in Jackson

After a short time in the hospital, James Meredith was released. He planned to rejoin the march. He had not wanted it to be such a big media event at first. But he did rejoin the march on June 25. This was the day before it reached Jackson. He walked at the front with Martin Luther King Jr. and other leaders.

The march stopped at Tougaloo College. This is a college mainly for black students. Marchers could rest, eat, and shower there. Many more people joined the march at this point. Famous national leaders also returned. A growing crowd was entertained by performers like James Brown, Dick Gregory, Sammy Davis Jr., Burt Lancaster, and Marlon Brando.

The next day, June 26, the marchers entered the city of Jackson. There were an estimated 15,000 people. This made it the largest civil rights march in Mississippi's history. Black neighborhoods welcomed them warmly. Some white people also welcomed them. However, many white people yelled and threatened the marchers. Others just stayed inside their homes. The Highway Police and other forces were out in large numbers. The city and state had promised to protect the marchers after the attacks in Philadelphia and Canton.

The marchers gathered at the back of the state capitol building. They listened to speeches and sang protest songs. They celebrated their achievements. The march showed "both the depths of black grievances and the height of black possibilities." It was about "oppressed people controlling their own destiny."

What the March Achieved

Lasting Impact and Recognition

The March Against Fear was very important. It "defied Jim Crow's culture of intimidation." This means it bravely challenged the unfair system. Black people asserted themselves and organized within their communities.

• Along the march route, 4,077 African Americans registered to vote. Many of them were voting for the first time.
• Later, black leaders in Mississippi said the march had long-lasting effects. It helped to energize community organizing among black people in the state.
• In 1967, Jack R. Thornell won the Pulitzer Prize for Photography. He won it for his photo of James Meredith after he was shot.