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Brown v. Board of Education
From this, the Court ruled that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional, effectively overturning the 1896 Plessy v. Ferguson decision, which had established the "separate but equal" doctrine. It set a legal precedent that challenged racial segregation in other public institutions and gave momentum to further desegregation efforts in the South. It set off a wave of protests and legal challenges that involved civil disobedience by activists in protests, sit-ins, etc. -
The Montgomery Bus Boycott
The boycott was initiated after Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a white man on a segregated bus. It became one of the first large-scale demonstrations against segregation. The Supreme Court ruled that segregation on public buses was unconstitutional, establishing the power of nonviolent protest. The boycott itself was a form of civil disobedience, as it involved direct action against an unjust law through collective refusal to comply with segregation policies. -
The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom
This event is most famous for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech, which articulated a vision for a racially integrated and just America.
It brought national attention to the issues of racial inequality and poverty and helped to push forward legislative changes like the Civil Rights Act of 1964, etc. While the march itself was peaceful and nonviolent, it was an act of civil disobedience because it was a public demonstration aimed at challenging racial and economic inequalities.