The Congress of Racial Equality, also known as CORE, is a civil rights organization founded in 1942 by a group of Chicago students. Some of the first members were James Farmer, George Houser, Bernice Fisher, Anna Murray, and Bayard Rustin. They were mainly pacifists influence by Gandhi, and anyone who believed that all people are created equal and were willing to work toward the goal of true equality throughout the world, could be a member. By 1961, CORE had 53 chapter throughout the United States. The chapters had monthly meetings, unpaid officers, and many committees made of volunteers.
On April 10, 1947, 8 white men and 8 black men were sent out on a Journey of Reconciliation to try and end segregation in interstate travel. Four of the riders were arrested and three had to work on a chain gang, bringing CORE national attention. Farmer named their journey, Freedom Ride. Many freedom rides were organized and other civil rights organizations joined in on them. In Birmingham, one of the buses was fire bombed and passengers were beaten by a mob of white people. The members of CORE must have had some amazing courage and strength to participate in these freedom rides, knowing well they would somehow be cruelly punished for their actions.
During 1961, Farmer helped to organize student sit ins. Within six months, these sit ins helped to end restaurant and lunch counter segregation in twenty six southern cities. They also helped public parks, swimming pools, theaters, churches, libraries, museums and beaches to become against segregation.The Famous March on Washington was partially organized by CORE, and 200,000 people peacefully marched to the Lincoln Memorial to protest segregation and demand equal justice for all. After, Martin Luther King, Jr. gave the famous "I Have a Dream" speech.
CORE, along with other organizations, created in 30 Freedom Schools throughout Mississippi. They were taught by volunteers and the curriculum included black history, the philosophy of the civil rights movement. During the summer of 1964, over 3,000 students attended these schools. Sadly, Freedom Schools and homes of blacks involved in this movement were targeted by white mobs. That summer 30 black homes and 37 black churches were fire bombed. More than 80 volunteers were beaten by white mobs or racist white officers. Also three mens' lives were taken by members of the Klu Klux Klan. These deaths created nation wide publicity for CORE and its actions.The members of CORE must have been devastated after these killings and beatings took place. I would have given up for the safety of friends, family, and members but these people were all very brave. They kept on pushing for their rights and eventually President Johnson's Voting Right Act was passed by Congress. CORE is an amazing organization and I am so glad I picked this to research.~Cora
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