"I don't know what will happen...but I have to make a faith act." -Martin Luther King Jr.

The American Civil Rights Movement is characterized as a non-violent movement, much like Ghandi's movement in India. While the protesters were non-violent, the police sometimes used violent force. 

The Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) chose to focus on Birmingham, Alabama in April 1863 because the city was forcefully segregated, the KKK had a home there and the police force under Eugene T. "Bull" Connor was willing to use force to maintain segregation. 

The SCLC and the Alabama Christian Movement of Human Rights led sit-ins, mass meetings, marches and boycotts throughout April. On April 12, MLK was arrested and placed in jail. During his sentence, he wrote his famous "Letter from a Birmingham Jail." 

Up until May, Bull Connor was not reacting with violence. Starting on May 2, a Children's Crusade was organized. Students left school and marched downtown where Bull Connor had them arrested. Students returned on May 3, which angered Bull Connor. At this point, police force was used. 

Fire hoses were turned on students, people were clubbed by police and dogs viciously attacked the peaceful protestors. The extreme violence towards children was quickly publicized in newspapers and television across the country and around the world. 

Attorney General Robert Kennedy was sent in to try and halt the confrontation.  SCLC negotiated with the city's business leadership. By May 10, the groups came to the agreement to remove "White Only" and "Blacks Only" signs and to desegregate. There were violent reactions to this agreement and President Kennedy sent in the National Guard.