 Norton U.S. History Tour: The Albany Movement Albany, Georgia
1961 Civil rights activists targeted Albany, Georgia, a strictly segregated city, in November, 1961. The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) joined with local groups to form the Albany Movement. Activists made use of nonviolent protests included boycotts, mass meetings and public demonstrations. Despite the willingness of protesters to go to jail—some 2,000 protesters would be incarcerated over the course of a year—the Albany Movement failed to end segregation. Rather than respond to the demonstrations with force, police chief Laurie Pritchett used nonviolence when arresting protesters, a tactic that did not garner much media attention. Pritchett knew that one goal of the Albany Movement was to fill the city jail to capacity. In response, the chief made certain he had access to jails outside of Albany. Instead of integrating facilities, city commissioners shut down the city’s parks and playgrounds. They repealed the segregation ordinances but continued practicing racial discrimination. The federal government refused to condemn city officials and did not intervene. The Albany Movement collapsed after one year with little to show for its efforts. Albany remained a segregated city. Although the Albany Movement was a failure, activists learned from the experience. To bring about real change, demonstrations would have to pressure federal officials to act. 1 
1Sitkoff, 125–26, 266–70.
 Access America: A Narrative History Ebook |  Visit Norton History StudySpace |
© Copyright 2010 W. W. Norton & Company |
