What organization was founded by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in response to civil rights activism?

The Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) was founded by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1957 as a response to the growing civil rights movement in the United States. Its establishment aimed to harness the moral authority and organizing power of black churches to conduct nonviolent protests against racial discrimination and segregation. King’s leadership within the SCLC was pivotal; he emphasized the philosophy of nonviolence derived from Mahatma Gandhi's principles, which became a hallmark of the civil rights movement.

The SCLC played a significant role in several critical events, such as the Birmingham Campaign and the March on Washington, thereby amplifying the national conversation about civil rights and social justice. The organization's efforts helped to solidify grassroots activism in the African American community and provided a framework for collective action aimed at dismantling systemic racism.

The other organizations mentioned have important roles in civil rights activism but were either established earlier or with different focuses. For instance, while the NAACP focused on legal challenges against discrimination, the SNCC concentrated on student-led activism and direct action. CORE was also influential in promoting nonviolent protest but was founded earlier in 1942, before King’s involvement in the civil rights movement, and primarily engaged in desegregation efforts through sit-ins and