Led by Martin Luther King Jr. , James Bevel , Fred Shuttlesworth and others , the campaign Social_event of nonviolent direct action culminated Process_end in widely publicized confrontations between young black students and white civic authorities , and eventually led Causation the municipal government to change Change the city 's discrimination laws .

Protests in Birmingham began Process_start with a boycott led by Shuttlesworth meant to pressure Convincing business leaders to open Openness employment Employment to people of all races , and end Process_end segregation in public facilities , restaurants , schools , and stores .

Organizer Wyatt Tee Walker joined Connect Birmingham activist Shuttlesworth and began Process_start what they called Project C , a series of sit-ins and marches intended to provoke Causation mass arrests Arrest .