<P> According to their respective strategies, Chief Baker's police were cordial toward demonstrators, but Sheriff Clark refused to let black registrants enter the county courthouse . Clark made no arrests or assaults at this time . However, in an incident that drew national attention, Dr. King was knocked down and kicked by a leader of the National States Rights Party, who was quickly arrested by Chief Baker . Baker also arrested the head of the American Nazi Party, George Lincoln Rockwell, who said he'd come to Selma to "run King out of town ." </P> <P> Over the next week, blacks persisted in their attempts to register . Sheriff Clark responded by arresting organizers, including Amelia Boynton and Hosea Williams . Eventually 225 registrants were arrested as well at the county courthouse . Their cases were handled by the NAACP Legal Defense Fund . On January 20, President Johnson gave his inaugural address, but did not mention voting rights . </P> <P> Up to this point, the overwhelming majority of registrants and marchers were sharecroppers, blue - collar workers and students . On January 22, Frederick Reese, a black schoolteacher who was also DCVL President, finally convinced his colleagues to join the campaign and register en masse . When they refused Sheriff Clark's orders to disperse at the courthouse, an ugly scene commenced . Clark's posse beat the teachers away from the door, but they rushed back only to be beaten again . The teachers retreated after three attempts, and marched to a mass meeting where they were celebrated as heroes by the black community . </P> <P> On January 25, U.S District Judge Daniel Thomas issued rules requiring that at least 100 people must be permitted to wait at the courthouse without being arrested . After Dr. King led marchers to the courthouse that morning, Jim Clark began to arrest all registrants in excess of 100, and corral the rest . Annie Lee Cooper, a fifty - three - year - old practical nurse who had been part of the Selma movement since 1963, struck Clark after he twisted her arm, and she knocked him to his knees . Four deputies seized Cooper, and photographers captured images of Clark beating her repeatedly with his club . The crowd was inflamed and some wanted to intervene against Clark, but King ordered them back as Cooper was taken away . Although Cooper had violated nonviolent discipline, the movement rallied around her . </P>

Where did the selma to montgomery march start