The Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) is a prominent civil rights organization that played a key role in the American Civil Rights Movement. It was founded in 1957 by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., along with other civil rights leaders such as Ralph Abernathy, Fred Shuttlesworth, and Joseph Lowery.

The SCLC was established following the success of the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which was led by Dr. King. The organization was created to coordinate and support nonviolent direct action efforts to combat segregation and racial discrimination in the southern United States.

Under Dr. King's leadership, the SCLC organized numerous marches, demonstrations, and boycotts to challenge unjust laws and practices. The organization's most famous event was the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, where Dr. King delivered his iconic "I Have a Dream" speech.

Throughout the 1960s, the SCLC played a crucial role in advocating for civil rights legislation such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The organization also provided training in nonviolent resistance and community organizing to activists throughout the country.

Though the SCLC faced internal challenges and criticism over the years, it remains an important institution in the history of the civil rights movement. Today, the organization continues its work in advocating for social justice and equality for all.