Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC)

Definition

The Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) is a civil rights organization founded in 1957 by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., along with other leaders, to harness the moral authority and organizing power of black churches to conduct non-violent protests in the service of civil rights reform. The SCLC played a pivotal role in the American civil rights movement, notably in campaigns such as the Birmingham Campaign and the Selma to Montgomery marches.

Related terms

Civil Rights Act of 1964: A landmark piece of federal legislation in the United States that outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

Nonviolent resistance: A method of protest or achieving social change that rejects the use of violence, employing tactics like peaceful demonstrations, sit-ins, and boycotts.

March on Washington: A massive protest march that occurred in 1963 where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his historic "I Have a Dream" speech advocating for racial harmony and economic justice