The Children’s Crusade

At that time, the American civil rights movement was engaged in a historic struggle: to achieve equal rights for Black citizens after centuries of discrimination. The protest that day in Birmingham, like many others before it, sought to integrate businesses that separated people by race. But one thing set this march apart: It would be largely made up of young people. In fact, most Black adults didn’t even know about it—including Janice’s parents. They would have been too worried to let kids take part.

Indeed, within the coming days, the young protesters would face violent opposition and hundreds of them would be arrested. Yet their courage would change the city—and the nation—in ways few Americans could have foreseen. The students’ actions have gone down in history as the Children’s Crusade‎.

At that time, the American civil rights movement was engaged in a historic struggle: to achieve equal rights for Black citizens after centuries of discrimination. The Birmingham protest that day sought to integrate businesses that separated people by race. Many earlier protests shared that goal. But something set this one apart: It would be largely made up of young people. In fact, most Black adults did not even know about it—including Janice’s parents. They would have been too worried to let kids take part.

Indeed, the young protesters would face violent opposition in the coming days. Hundreds of them would be arrested. Yet their courage would change the city—and the nation—in ways few Americans could have foreseen. The students’ actions have gone down in history as the Children’s Crusade.

The Birmingham protests took place nearly a full century after the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guaranteed equal rights to Black Americans in 1868. Still, much of the U.S. remained unequal in 1963. State and local governments, particularly in the South, had made racial discrimination a daily reality through decades of restrictive Jim Crow laws and practices.

In many U.S. towns and cities, Black people could live only in certain neighborhoods. They could not drink from the same water fountains, go to the same schools, eat in the same restaurants, or try on clothes in the same stores as White people. 

The situation was particularly bad in Birmingham. Officials like Eugene “Bull” Connor, who oversaw the police force, strictly enforced segregation. White extremists such as Ku Klux Klan members threw explosives into Black homes and churches so often that the city had earned the nickname “Bombingham.”

Beginning in early April 1963, King and his staff joined civil rights leaders in Birmingham for a series of marches to put pressure on the city to integrate. Although some local Black adults took part, many feared losing their jobs, their homes, or even their lives if they did.

On April 12, King was arrested for defying a court order not to march. In the next few days, he wrote his “Letter From Birmingham Jail” (see Skill Spotlight, below), which defended the need for public demonstrations. Still, the protests remained relatively small.

The Birmingham protests took place nearly a full century after the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guaranteed equal rights to Black Americans in 1868. Still, much of the U.S. remained unequal in 1963. State and local governments had made racial discrimination a daily reality. For decades, they used restrictive Jim Crow laws and practices. That was especially true in the South.

In many U.S. towns and cities, Black people could live only in certain neighborhoods. They could not drink from the same water fountains or go to the same schools as White people. They could not eat in the same restaurants or try on clothes in the same stores.

The situation was particularly bad in Birmingham. Officials like Eugene “Bull” Connor, who oversaw the police force, strictly enforced segregation. White extremists such as Ku Klux Klan members, threw explosives into Black homes and churches. They did it so often, the city had earned the nickname “Bombingham.”

Beginning in early April 1963, King and his staff joined civil rights leaders in Birmingham for a series of marches. They wanted to pressure the city to integrate. Some local Black adults took part. But many feared losing their jobs, their homes, or even their lives if they did.

On April 12, King was arrested for defying a court order not to march. In the next few days, he wrote his “Letter From Birmingham Jail.” (See Skill Spotlight, below.) It defended the need for public demonstrations. Still, the protests remained relatively small.

Then a civil rights leader named James Bevel had an idea: Get kids involved. Bevel and his wife, Diane Nash, began holding afternoon workshops to teach local teens about the national struggle for civil rights and methods of peaceful protest.

Janice started attending the workshops after school. When Bevel proposed a student-led march, she was all-in.

Bevel and his team blanketed the city’s Black schools with leaflets about the march. They recruited Black radio hosts to broadcast coded details to teens. The word was out: Thursday, May 2, was D-Day.

Then a civil rights leader named James Bevel had an idea: Get kids involved. Bevel and his wife, Diane Nash, began holding afternoon workshops. They taught local teens about the national struggle for civil rights and methods of peaceful protest.

Janice started attending the workshops after school. When Bevel proposed a student-led march, she was all-in.

Bevel and his team blanketed the city’s Black schools with leaflets about the march. They got Black radio hosts to broadcast coded details to teens. The word was out: Thursday, May 2, was D-Day.

That morning, as soon as first period ended, Janice rushed out of school to the 16th Street Baptist Church, where the day’s activities were to begin. The church was packed, the atmosphere electric. “We were singing and rocking and clapping!” Janice, now 76, recalls. At last, the kids were sent out, singing “We Shall Overcome.” Their destination: the business district a few blocks away. 

Although few parents knew about the protest, the police did. As the first marchers exited the church, officers piled them—including Janice—into wagons and took them to jail. Before long, police ran out of wagons and had to call for school buses. Still, wave after wave of kids kept coming. By the end of the day, some 600 of them had been arrested.

That morning, Janice rushed out of school as soon as first period ended. She went to the 16th Street Baptist Church, where the day’s activities were to begin. The church was packed. The atmosphere was electric. “We were singing and rocking and clapping!” Janice, now 76, recalls. At last, the kids were sent out. They were singing “We Shall Overcome.” The plan was to go to the business district a few blocks away.

Few parents knew about the protest. But the police did. As the first marchers left the church, officers piled them into wagons. That included Janice. The police took them to jail. Before long, police ran out of wagons. They had to call for school buses. Still, wave after wave of kids kept coming. By the end of the day, some 600 of them had been arrested.

Janice and her friends settled in for a long stay in jail. Even so, the excitement continued as they greeted each new group of arrivals. Encouraged by the boldness of the young people, protest leaders pledged that the next day’s march would be even bigger. Double D-Day, they called it.

Friday, May 3, 1963, is famous for its drama. As scores of marchers headed downtown, Bull Connor issued a command to firefighters: Turn on the hoses.

Janice and her friends settled in for a long stay in jail. Even so, the excitement continued as they greeted each new group of arrivals. Protest leaders were encouraged by the young people’s boldness. They pledged that the next day’s march would be even bigger. They called it Double D-Day.

Friday, May 3, 1963, is famous for its drama. As scores of marchers headed downtown, Bull Connor gave a command to firefighters: Turn on the hoses.

The hoses used by Birmingham firefighters were engineered to be especially powerful. The force of their water was strong enough to strip the bark from a tree. “They aimed for your head and knocked you down,” one protester later recalled. “The hose rolled me right down the street like a sheet of paper.”

Still, the students kept marching. Then Connor ordered officers to disperse crowds with police dogs. Three people were bitten badly enough to go to the hospital.

Finally, march leaders and police called a truce. But by then, reporters from around the country had witnessed the violence. That night, coverage of the march dominated the national TV news. The next morning, shocking photos appeared on the front pages of newspapers: a police dog lunging at a young marcher; teens cowering under a fire hose blast.

Suddenly, all of America was watching Birmingham.

The hoses used by Birmingham firefighters were engineered to be especially powerful. The force of their water was strong enough to strip the bark from a tree. “They aimed for your head and knocked you down,” one protester later recalled. “The hose rolled me right down the street like a sheet of paper.”

Still, the students kept marching. Then Connor ordered officers to disperse crowds with police dogs. Three people were bitten badly enough to go to the hospital.

Finally, march leaders and police called a truce. But by then, reporters from around the country had witnessed the violence. That night, coverage of the march was all over the national TV news. The next morning, shocking photos appeared on the front pages of newspapers. They showed a police dog lunging at a young marcher and teens cowering under a fire hose blast.

Suddenly, all of America was watching Birmingham.

Among those people was President John F. Kennedy. Alarmed at the violence, he sent federal representatives to negotiate a compromise between protest leaders, businesspeople, and city officials.

Meanwhile, the jails were so full, authorities moved Janice and other protesters to a holding center at the state fairgrounds. Janice’s parents, who had been worried sick, were finally able to get her out on Sunday, after a weekend in custody. 

Finally, eight days after the kids first marched, civil rights leaders announced a historic agreement with business leaders. “Whites only” and “Blacks only” signs would be removed from restrooms and drinking fountains. Stores would hire Black salespeople. And a biracial committee would oversee the integration of Birmingham.

Among those people was President John F. Kennedy. He was alarmed at the violence. So he sent federal representatives to work out a compromise between protest leaders, businesspeople, and city officials.

Meanwhile, the jails were so full, authorities had to move Janice and other protesters. They were put in a holding center at the state fairgrounds. Janice’s parents had been worried sick. They were able to get her out on Sunday, after a weekend in custody.

Finally, civil rights leaders announced a historic agreement with business leaders. That happened eight days after the kids first marched. “Whites only” and “Blacks only” signs would be removed from restrooms and drinking fountains. Stores would hire Black salespeople. And a biracial committee would oversee the integration of Birmingham.

Still, real progress from the protests did not come quickly. Four months later, Ku Klux Klan members bombed the 16th Street Baptist Church, killing four young girls.

But change was underway. Critically, the marches had fueled the momentum of the civil rights movement in the U.S. They helped spur the Civil Rights Act of 1964, signed the next year by President Lyndon B. Johnson. That landmark legislation outlawed racial segregation at public facilities and in workplaces throughout the country.

The marches in Birmingham were central to the civil rights movement’s struggle for equality, experts say. “It was the young people who made the difference,” says historian Glenn Eskew of Georgia State University. “They broke the back of segregation.”

Today, Janice Wesley Kelsey still lives in Birmingham. She is proud of her part in that historic event 60 years ago. “We were a catalyst for change,” she says—a “ripple” that turned into a wave. 

Still, real progress from the protests did not come quickly. Four months later, Ku Klux Klan members bombed the 16th Street Baptist Church. Four young girls were killed.

But change was underway. Critically, the marches had fueled the momentum of the civil rights movement in the U.S. They helped spur the Civil Rights Act of 1964, signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson. That landmark legislation outlawed racial segregation at public facilities and in workplaces throughout the country.

The marches in Birmingham were central to the civil rights movement’s struggle for equality, experts say. “It was the young people who made the difference,” says historian Glenn Eskew of Georgia State University. “They broke the back of segregation.”

Today, Janice Wesley Kelsey still lives in Birmingham. She is proud of her part in that historic event 60 years ago. “We were a catalyst for change,” she says—a “ripple” that turned into a wave.