Meaning: The quote "The fire trucks are out, there are thousands of people in the streets. You have a choice. You can have this, or you let Negroes eat at the lunch counters" is a powerful statement made by Burke Marshall, a prominent lawyer who played a significant role in the civil rights movement in the United States. This quote encapsulates the intense racial tension and the pivotal choices faced during the struggle for desegregation and equal rights for African Americans in the 1960s.

During the 1960s, the civil rights movement in the United States was marked by widespread protests, demonstrations, and legal battles aimed at ending racial segregation and discrimination. One of the focal points of the movement was the fight to desegregate public facilities, including restaurants and lunch counters, which were often off-limits to African Americans due to discriminatory Jim Crow laws and practices.

Burke Marshall's quote reflects the stark reality of the time, where the refusal to allow African Americans to eat at lunch counters was met with mass protests and the deployment of fire trucks to disperse the demonstrators. The quote presents a choice: to uphold segregation and perpetuate injustice, or to embrace equality and allow African Americans the same rights and privileges enjoyed by their white counterparts.

Marshall's words highlight the moral and ethical dilemma at the heart of the civil rights movement. It underscores the fundamental choice between maintaining the status quo of discrimination and oppression or taking a stand for justice and equality. The use of the term "Negroes" in the quote also reflects the language of the era, serving as a reminder of the historical context and the attitudes prevalent during that time.

As a lawyer, Burke Marshall was deeply involved in the legal battles of the civil rights movement. He served as the Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice from 1961 to 1965, playing a key role in enforcing desegregation laws and protecting the rights of African Americans. Marshall's work encompassed advocating for federal intervention in cases of racial discrimination and working to advance the cause of civil rights through legal means.

In the context of the quote, Marshall's words carry the weight of someone who understood the legal, social, and moral implications of the struggle for civil rights. His message serves as a call to action, challenging individuals and society as a whole to confront the reality of racial injustice and make a choice that aligns with the principles of equality and human rights.

The quote also reflects the broader theme of the civil rights movement as a pivotal moment in American history, where the nation was forced to confront its deeply entrenched system of racial inequality. The choice presented in the quote extends beyond the specific issue of lunch counter desegregation to encompass the broader question of societal values and the commitment to justice for all.

In conclusion, Burke Marshall's quote captures the urgency and significance of the civil rights movement, encapsulating the pivotal choices and moral imperatives faced during that tumultuous period. It serves as a poignant reminder of the ongoing struggle for equality and justice, resonating with the enduring legacy of the civil rights movement and its impact on American society.