Timeline: Rights Struggles and "Bloody Sunday”

- In mid-1964, the SNCC and CORE launched a Voter Registration Campaign in Mississippi to combat voting barriers.

- Six civil rights workers were murdered, and over 80 were injured during the campaign.

Fewer than 2,000 new voters were registered.

- In January 1965, the SCLC organised Project Alabama, a protest march from Selma to Montgomery.

- On March 7th, 1965 ("Bloody Sunday"), state troopers attacked peaceful protesters with tear gas and whips. The attack was televised nationwide.

- On March 15th, 1965, President Johnson declared in a speech that it was deadly wrong to deny Black Americans the right to vote. A new Voting Rights Act was proposed.

- On March 21st, 1965, MLK led a march from Selma to Montgomery. Upon reaching Montgomery, he delivered a speech at the Alabama State Capitol to 25,000 people singing "We Shall Overcome."

- On August 6th, 1965, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was signed into law, banning literacy tests and other restrictive practices. Federal registrars were sent to Southern states to ensure Black voting rights.