Final answer:
Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth invited Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to assist in the Birmingham campaign to desegregate the city. The Children's March faced harsh responses from authorities, leading to increased national support for civil rights legislation and desegregation efforts.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Children's March in Birmingham of 1963 was a pivotal event during the Civil Rights Movement. Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth, a key civil rights activist, requested the assistance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who was leading the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), to help desegregate Birmingham.
The demonstrations drew harsh reactions from local authorities, notably Police Commissioner Bull Connor. Despite the hope for peaceful protests, the response with violent measures like fire hoses and police dogs led to widespread outrage and media coverage.
The images of young protesters facing brutality played a significant role in garnering support across the nation for civil rights legislation, leading to the desegregation of public facilities in Birmingham and laying the groundwork for further civil rights advancements.