Western Illinois University

A Foundation for Sustainable Rural Community Development

The Southern Christian Leadership Conference

The Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., issued a document declaring that civil rights are essential to democracy, that segregation must end, and that all Black people should reject segregation absolutely and non-violently. As the SCLC adopted non-violent mass action, the organization built the capacity of community’s to resist segregation; it emphasized creating affiliations with community organizations such as churches.

Recommended Resource

  • Southern Christian Leadership Conference. “Our History.” (Accessed: June 9, 2008).