What were the main forms of violence against civil rights activists?

The main forms of violence against civil rights activists included physical assaults, bombings, lynchings, and police brutality.

Physical assaults were a common form of violence against civil rights activists. These attacks were often carried out by white supremacist groups such as the Ku Klux Klan, as well as by ordinary citizens who opposed the civil rights movement. Activists were frequently beaten, sometimes severely, during protests and marches. For example, during the Freedom Rides of 1961, activists were attacked by angry mobs in Alabama and South Carolina.

Bombings were another form of violence used against civil rights activists. Homes, churches, and other buildings associated with the civil rights movement were targeted. One of the most notorious examples is the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham, Alabama in 1963, where four young girls were killed. These bombings were intended to create fear and intimidate activists into stopping their work.

Lynchings, although less common by the 1950s and 1960s, were still a form of violence used against civil rights activists. Lynchings involved the illegal killing of individuals, often by hanging, by mobs of people. This form of violence was particularly prevalent in the South, and was used as a tool of terror to maintain racial hierarchy and control.

Police brutality was also a significant form of violence against civil rights activists. Law enforcement officers often used excessive force when dealing with protests and demonstrations. This was seen most notably during the Selma to Montgomery marches in 1965, where police used tear gas and clubs against peaceful protesters on what became known as "Bloody Sunday".

In addition to these forms of direct violence, civil rights activists also faced indirect violence in the form of threats, harassment, and economic reprisals. Activists and their families were often threatened with violence, and many lost their jobs or homes as a result of their involvement in the movement. Despite these challenges, the civil rights movement persisted and achieved significant legal and social changes.