Bevel, James (1936–2008)

Bevel was a close advisor to Martin Luther King Jr. He strongly influenced King’s vocal opposition to the Vietnam War. In 1963, Bevel was critical in convincing King to engage children in the movement. The “children’s crusade” in Birmingham, Alabama helped turn the tide of public opinion against segregationists. In later years, his reputation became marred by the fringe associations he supported and by an incest charge that led to imprisonment.