Question

According to President Kennedy, "The civil rights movement owes Bull Connor as much as it owes Abraham Lincoln." The nonviolent confrontation tactics employed by the civil rights movement were effective in drawing public attention to segregation in the South. Pictured: Policemen unleash their dogs on nonviolent civil rights demonstrators in Birmingham, Alabama, in May 1963.

True or False?

Answer 1

The statement is true, as Bull Connor's harsh treatment of civil rights protestors in Birmingham, Alabama, brought widespread attention to the movement, leading to major legislative advances for civil rights.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement attributed to President John F. Kennedy is true, acknowledging Bull Connor's aggressive tactics that inadvertently aided the civil rights movement by highlighting the brutality of segregation enforcement. Similarly, nonviolent confrontation tactics, such as those employed during the Birmingham campaign, effectively drew public attention to the injustices of segregation in the South. The brutal response of Birmingham's Public Safety Commissioner, Bull Connor, who commanded the use of high-pressure fire hoses and police dogs against protestors, including children, propelled the movement into the national spotlight and galvanized public and governmental support for civil rights legislation.

President Kennedy, recognizing the severity of the situation, addressed the nation and pushed for a new civil rights act to promote racial justice. This act, along with the visible effects of nonviolent protests and the resulting public outcry, led officials in Birmingham to meet Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s demands and eventually aided in the passing of landmark legislation like the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.