6.17-Martin Luther King, Jr Day

The SCLC maintained nonviolent resistance as a core strategy to advance civil rights.

The SCLC was open to members from all races.

The SCLC sought to address other issues affecting the Black community such as poverty.

The SCLC limited membership to Christian churches.

to concentrate on Black economic rights over political rights

to keep the focus on the moral issues of civil rights

to minimize the importance of politics in the civil rights movement

to discourage politicians from becoming involved in the movement

Presidents Kennedy and Johnson ordered the National Guard to protect demonstrators.

Federal officials met with civil rights leaders to discuss their concerns.

Congress passed laws as activists continued to stage demonstrations despite the resistance they faced.

The Kennedy and Johnson administrations recommended civil rights leaders use the federal courts to enact change.