1964 — Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party Founded

The Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party (MFDP) was officially founded on May 20, 1964, to challenge the white-dominated Mississippi Democratic Party and demand fair Black representation. Spearheaded by leaders like Fannie Lou Hamer, Ella Baker, and Bob Moses, the MFDP emerged from the civil rights grassroots to oppose voter suppression and political disenfranchisement. At the 1964 Democratic National Convention, the MFDP boldly challenged the legitimacy of the all-white delegation, forcing the nation to confront the contradictions between American democracy and Southern apartheid. Although the MFDP was not seated at the convention, its defiant stand changed the political landscape, eventually leading to reforms within the Democratic Party and expanded Black participation in electoral politics. The MFDP’s founding on May 20 marks a key moment in the long fight for voting rights and political inclusion.