Love is the only way. Jesus discovered that. .
Using this outline of love and non-violence, which is a modification and combination of Jesus and Gandhi's beliefs, King assembled a group to contest the laws in Birmingham, Alabama. .
Birmingham was built around the steel industry. Whites had devised an economic, political and legal system to maintain a strict hierarchy of class and race, which for blacks, was considered the toughest city in the South. The city also included an extra-legal terrorist movement within the local police force that was ready to use violence against black dissidents at any cost. Blacks referred to the city as Bombingham' for the number of political bombings suffered they suffered. Birmingham also was home to the most radical Ku Klux Klan members in the nation. "King described it as America's worst city for racism."" It was possible for the city to get away with such racist acts because of the cities public safety commissioner and mayoral candidate, Eugene "Bull- Connor. Connor ruled a virtual police state, giving local city officials permission to tap phone lines and intercept mail. He was the individual symbol of segregation in Birmingham. Often times his volatile temperament was hidden by his sleek attire. Connor was often seen wearing stylish dark suits, a matching hat, horn-rimmed glasses, and a classy ties. However, he earned the nickname Bull because of his propensity for violence. "He was close with the Klan and claimed he could solve any racial problems with two policemen and a dog."" .
That did not deter King and The Southern Christian Leadership Council (SCLC), which he led. They planned a local economic boycott of downtown Birmingham businesses by black patrons. However, many local black leaders opposed King's intervention. "To many Birmingham Negroes, King's drive inflamed tensions at a time when the city seemed to be making some progress, however small, in race relations.
