Nov. 3, 1874: White League Attacks Black Voters
Deadly election “riots” took place in Barbour County, Alabama against African American politicians and voters.
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Theme: Voting Rights
Nov. 3, 1874: Robert Smalls Elected
Robert Smalls was elected to Congress from South Carolina during Reconstruction.
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Nov. 1, 1890: Mississippi Constitution
Mississippi adopted a state constitution with poll tax and literacy tests to roll back the gains of the Reconstruction era.
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Oct. 25, 1868: St. Bernard Parish Massacre
The St. Bernard Parish massacre of African Americans was carried out by white men to terrorize the recently emancipated voters in Louisiana.
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Oct. 19, 1870: First African Americans Elected to the House of Representatives
For the first time, African Americans were elected to the House of Representatives in 1870.
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Oct. 17, 1868: Abraham Galloway Elected as North Carolina Senator
During his 33 years, Abraham Galloway accomplished more than most. An abolitionist, a freedom fighter, a spy, a politician, Galloway rose to prominence during the Civil War and Reconstruction, leaving a legacy of Black leadership and resistance to white supremacy and white violence.
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Sept. 28, 1868: Opelousas Massacre
In response to the promotion of voter registration, a KKK-like group massacred hundreds of people, most of whom were African American.
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Sept. 19, 1868: Camilla Massacre
As African Americans marched peacefully in response to their expulsion from elected office, more than a dozen were massacred near Albany, Georgia.
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Sept. 10, 1895: South Carolina Constitutional Convention Convened
The South Carolina Constitutional Convention convened to disenfranchise Black voters.
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Sept. 4, 1875: Clinton, Mississippi Massacre
Nearly 50 African-Americans were killed by white mobs during the Clinton Riot.
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Sept. 3, 1868: Henry McNeal Turner Addressed the Georgia Legislature
Henry McNeal Turner addressed the Georgia Legislature on its decision to expel all Black representatives.
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July 30, 1866: New Orleans Massacre
The New Orleans Massacre occurred when white residents attacked Black marchers near the reconvened Louisiana Constitutional Convention.
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March 25, 1965: Viola Liuzzo Murdered by KKK After Selma to Montgomery March
Viola Liuzzo (April 11, 1925 – March 25, 1965), Civil Rights activist, was murdered in 1965 by the KKK after the Selma to Montgomery March.
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May 3, 1898: Septima Clark Born
Educator and civil rights organizer Septima Clark was born in South Carolina.
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May 20, 1963: Medgar Evers Speech on WLBT
Medgar Evers made a 17-minute speech on WLBT in a rare and historic exception to the white supremacist only voice on Mississippi radio and television.
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March 24, 1966: Supreme Court Officially Abolishes Last Vestige of Poll Taxes
A U.S. Supreme Court decision bans poll taxes for state and local elections.
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Feb. 26, 1965: Jimmie Lee Jackson Murdered
Jimmie Lee Jackson was beaten and shot by an Alabama state trooper during a peaceful voting rights march on Feb. 18. He died eight days later.
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Jan. 4, 1965: Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party Challenges Congress
Hundreds of Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party supporters went to support the Challenge to the seating of the Mississippi delegation.
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Dec. 25, 1951: Murder of Harriette and Harry Moore in Florida
The Ku Klux Klan bombed the home of labor and voting rights activists Harry T. Moore and Harriette Moore — killing them both. Harriette Moore taught elementary school, secretly teaching her students Black history in the face of bans by the state superintendent.
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Nov. 17, 1961: Albany Movement
The Albany Movement engaged multiple civil rights organizations and students in the fight for desegregation and voting rights.
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Oct. 4, 1961: Burglund High School Walkout
Burglund students walked out in response to the expulsions of their classmates and the murder of Herbert Lee.
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Sept. 1, 1965: Klan Raid Family Home in Hayneville, Alabama
The Ku Klux Klan shot into the home of Freedom Library organizer Pattie Mae McDonald and her family to terrorize them.
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Aug. 8, 1964: Freedom Schools Convention
The Freedom Schools Convention was held in Meridian, Mississippi
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Aug. 6, 1964: Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party Convention
The MFDP held a State Convention with 2,500 people in Jackson, Mississippi.
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