<P> The SCLC, which had been criticized by some student activists for its failure to participate more fully in the freedom rides, committed much of its prestige and resources to a desegregation campaign in Albany, Georgia, in November 1961 . King, who had been criticized personally by some SNCC activists for his distance from the dangers that local organizers faced--and given the derisive nickname "De Lawd" as a result--intervened personally to assist the campaign led by both SNCC organizers and local leaders . </P> <P> The campaign was a failure because of the canny tactics of Laurie Pritchett, the local police chief, and divisions within the black community . The goals may not have been specific enough . Pritchett contained the marchers without violent attacks on demonstrators that inflamed national opinion . He also arranged for arrested demonstrators to be taken to jails in surrounding communities, allowing plenty of room to remain in his jail . Prichett also foresaw King's presence as a danger and forced his release to avoid King's rallying the black community . King left in 1962 without having achieved any dramatic victories . The local movement, however, continued the struggle, and it obtained significant gains in the next few years . </P> <P> In January 1962, Bernie Sanders, then a student at the University of Chicago, helped lead the first sit - in in Chicago history, organizing a 15 - day sit - in at the college's administration building, protesting university president George Wells Beadle's segregated campus housing policy . "We feel it is an intolerable situation, when Negro and white students of the university cannot live together in university - owned apartments," Sanders told a crowd of about 200 students . After several days of protests, Beadle met with students to form a commission to investigate discrimination . </P> <P> The Albany movement was shown to be an important education for the SCLC, however, when it undertook the Birmingham campaign in 1963 . Executive Director Wyatt Tee Walker carefully planned the early strategy and tactics for the campaign . It focused on one goal--the desegregation of Birmingham's downtown merchants, rather than total desegregation, as in Albany . </P>

When did the civil rights movement began in america