Valdosta in Lowndes County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)

Civil Rights Movement

— Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park —

Photographed by Brandon D Cross

1. Civil Rights Movement Marker (Panel 1)

Inscription.

Civil Rights Movement. . , (Panel 1) , When Rosa Parks was arrested in Montgomery for refusing to surrender her bus seat to a white passenger, community activists asked King if they could meet at his church to plan a bus boycott. He agreed, and the success of the one-day boycott led black leaders to extend the action. King was asked to head the Montgomery Improvement Association (MIA), an organization formed to run the boycott, which lasted for 381 days. King and other MIA members were arrested, and King's home was bombed., (Panel 2) , The US Supreme Court ruled segregation on Montgomery buses unconstitutional and on December 21, 1956, King was one of the first passengers to board an integrated bus. The bus boycott made King a national leader of the civil rights movement. King's account of the boycott, “Stride Toward Freedom," was published in 1958., (Panel 3) , In 1957, King became president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) which was headquartered in Atlanta. In 1960, King moved to Atlanta to be more involved in the campaigns of the SCLC. King's leadership focused on non-violent protest., (Panel 4) , In August 1963, the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom drew 250,000 people, and King delivered his “I Have a Dream" speech. In 1964, King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, Norway. Congress also passed the 1964 Civil Rights Act, outlawing segregation in public facilities., (Panel 5) , King and the SCLC campaigned for black voting rights in Selma, Alabama in 1965. This campaign led to the passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. This Act abolished legal impediments to voting rights for minorities and created federal protection at the polls. , (Panel 6) , In response to urban riots in northern cities, King and the SCLC campaigned in Chicago in 1965-66. This campaign focused on employment, housing, and education., King's last campaign organized with the SCLC was a Poor Peoples March to Washington. However, he was assassinated on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee where he was supporting striking sanitation markers.

(Panel 1)
When Rosa Parks was arrested in Montgomery for refusing to surrender her bus seat to a white passenger, community activists asked King if they could meet at his church to plan a bus boycott. He agreed, and the success of the one-day boycott led black leaders to extend the action. King was asked to head the Montgomery Improvement Association (MIA), an organization formed to run the boycott, which lasted for 381 days. King and other MIA members were arrested, and King's home was bombed.

(Panel 2)
The US Supreme Court ruled segregation on Montgomery buses unconstitutional and on December 21, 1956, King was one of the first passengers to board an integrated bus. The bus boycott made King a national leader of the civil rights movement. King's account of the boycott, “Stride Toward Freedom," was published in 1958.

(Panel 3)
In 1957, King became president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) which was headquartered in Atlanta. In 1960, King moved to Atlanta to be more involved in the campaigns of the SCLC. King's leadership focused on non-violent protest.

(Panel 4)
In August 1963, the

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March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom drew 250,000 people, and King delivered his “I Have a Dream" speech. In 1964, King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, Norway. Congress also passed the 1964 Civil Rights Act, outlawing segregation in public facilities.

(Panel 5)
King and the SCLC campaigned for black voting rights in Selma, Alabama in 1965. This campaign led to the passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. This Act abolished legal impediments to voting rights for minorities and created federal protection at the polls.

(Panel 6)
In response to urban riots in northern cities, King and the SCLC campaigned in Chicago in 1965-66. This campaign focused on employment, housing, and education.

King's last campaign organized with the SCLC was a Poor Peoples March to Washington. However, he was assassinated on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee where he was supporting striking sanitation markers.

Erected 2010 by The Valdosta/Lowndes County Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Committee.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical date for this entry is December 21, 1956.

Location. 30° 49.616′ N,

Civil Rights Movement Marker (Panel 2) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Brandon D Cross

2. Civil Rights Movement Marker (Panel 2)

83° 16.513′ W. Marker is in Valdosta, Georgia, in Lowndes County. It can be reached from the intersection of East M.L.K. Drive and South Ashley Street, on the right when traveling east. The marker is located within Rev Dr Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 201 East M.L.K Drive, Valdosta GA 31601, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Georgia’s Coastal Plain. It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

and in the Wiregrass.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: College Education and Spiritual Growth (a few steps from this marker); Birth/Early Life (a few steps from this marker); Marriage (a few steps from

Civil Rights Movement Marker (Panel 3) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Brandon D Cross

3. Civil Rights Movement Marker (Panel 3)

this marker); Legacy (a few steps from this marker); Martin Luther King, Jr. Monument (within shouting distance of this marker); Old City Hall (approx. 0.3 miles away); Troop Encampment Site (approx. 0.3 miles away); Nationsbank (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Valdosta.

Also see . . .
1. The March on Washington. (Submitted on October 14, 2024, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)
2. Selma March. (Submitted on October 14, 2024, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)
3. Martin Luther King, Jr. (Submitted on October 14, 2024, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)

Civil Rights Movement Marker (Panel 4) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Brandon D Cross

4. Civil Rights Movement Marker (Panel 4)

Civil Rights Movement Marker (Panel 5) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Brandon D Cross

5. Civil Rights Movement Marker (Panel 5)

Civil Rights Movement Marker (Panel 6) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Brandon D Cross

6. Civil Rights Movement Marker (Panel 6)

Civil Rights Movement Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Brandon D Cross

7. Civil Rights Movement Marker

Martin Luther King Jr, March on Washington image. Click for full size.

Public Domain

8. Martin Luther King Jr, March on Washington

Civil Rights Movement March on Selma image. Click for full size.

Public Domain

9. Civil Rights Movement March on Selma

Credits. This page was last revised on October 15, 2024. It was originally submitted on October 14, 2024, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 188 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on October 14, 2024, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. 7. submitted on October 15, 2024, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. 8. submitted on October 15, 2024. 9. submitted on October 15, 2024, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.