Final Blog for FYS 1000 "Big Question"

The First Amendment has been the corner stone for the development of civil rights in the United States. Although it has not been an easy endeavor, the several people and events have risen to the occasion of changing history, for better or worse. In this final blog post for FYS 1000, I'm going to talk about two important events, led by MLK, that shaped the United States due to the freedoms given by the first Amendment.

MLK Jr. during the Bus Boycott

When it comes to the discussion of the progress made in civil rights in the United States, one simply cannot exclude Martin Luther King Jr. As perhaps the most prominent leader within the civil rights movement, MLK spearheaded the segregation in the United States, while yet promoting peaceful protests. 

The minister led the Montgomery bus boycott of 1955, after Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to move to the back of the bus. The boycott was one of the first main displays of protest that brought MLK to the front of the fight for civil rights. Not only did this boycott popularize King, but it showed that peaceful protests had huge potential in the public eye. The national media was drawn to the demonstration, as a protest of this scale had never been mainstream as the bus boycott. After the boycott, which lasted 385 days, the District Court ruled that there can no longer be racial discrimination on the public Montgomery busses. 

The March on Washington

Perhaps the most important event of the civil rights movement was the March on Washington in 1963. Along with other prominent leaders in the movement, King led an absolutely enormous peaceful protest in Washington, DC. Approximately 250,000 people joined the protest This protest was the greatest exhibition of the cry for equality from African Americans and other groups. Not only were issues of segregation and discrimination addressed, but other labor related issues. 

While the main focus of the march was for equality, Martin Luther King Jr. spoke his iconic "I Have a Dream" speech, which is a phrase that can be identified by nearly everyone today. King optimistically spoke about his goal, which is to see a truly united America. Whether it was between race or religion, King wanted unity and peace in the country. 

There is no doubt that King has gone down as one of the most important and influential leaders of the 20th century. King spoke wisdom and promoted peaceful protests and equality. Due to the first amendment, King, along with others, changed the United States forever. 

Without the first amendment, none of this would have been possible. There would be no Martin Luther King Jr. in our history books.

The progression of civil rights in the United States grew upon the freedoms that were left by our Founding Fathers. Without the first amendment, there would not have been legal protests, speeches, or promotion for civil rights. The March on Washington was one of the largest demonstrations possible through the first amendment at the time. Not only was this protected as a freedom of assembly, but King and all other speakers were protected through freedom of speech.

Martin Luther King Jr.

Without nearly all of the freedoms from the first amendment, change would not have been possible. King would not have gotten the media attention that he did through the boycotts and would not have been able to make his great speeches without freedom of speech. The other peaceful protests at the time, like the Library Sit-in would have been illegal but, luckily, we are blessed with the first amendment which allows change in the country. Our system simply would not work without it.