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[[File:Democratic voter suppression.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Democrat voter suppression in the Bull Connor era.]]  

[[File:Democratic voter suppression.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Democrat voter suppression in the Bull Connor era.]]  

'''Theophilus Eugene Connor''' (July 11, 1897 – March 10, 1973<ref name=politicalgraveyard>[https://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/connor.html#745.93.98 Index to Politicians: Connor]. ''The Political Graveyard''. Retrieved October 3, 2023.</ref>), known as '''T. Eugene Connor''' or more commonly '''Bull Connor''', was a prominent [[Democratic Party]] leader in Alabama known for his militant white supremacism consistent with the state's [[Progressive Movement|Progressive]] tradition. Alabama was a hard-core Confederate state which was still coming to terms with the end of the American Civil War and the emancipation of the slaves.

'''Theophilus Eugene Connor''' (July 11, 1897 – March 10, 1973<ref name=politicalgraveyard>[https://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/connor.html#745.93.98 Index to Politicians: Connor]. ''The Political Graveyard''. Retrieved October 3, 2023.</ref>), known as '''T. Eugene Connor''' or more commonly '''Bull Connor''', was a prominent [[left-wing]]<ref name=alencyclopediabio>Baggett, James L. (March 9, 2007). [https://encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/eugene-bull-connor/ Eugene "Bull" Connor]. ''Encyclopedia of Alabama''. Retrieved October 3, 2023.</ref> [[Democratic Party]] leader in Alabama known for his militant white supremacism consistent with the state's [[Progressive Movement|Progressive]] tradition. Alabama was a hard-core Confederate state which was still coming to terms with the end of the American Civil War and the emancipation of the slaves.

Connor known for his extremist reprisals against peaceful civil rights demonstrations in [[Birmingham, Alabama]], where his shameful actions epitomized the racial problems that long existed in [[the South]]. The "public safety" commissioner's card-carrying, partisan allegiance with violent Democratic segregationists is infamously remembered to this day for his public manifestation of unrestrained, animalistic savagery unleashed upon civil rights advocates.

Connor known for his extremist reprisals against peaceful civil rights demonstrations in [[Birmingham, Alabama]], where his shameful actions epitomized the racial problems that long existed in [[the South]]. The "public safety" commissioner's card-carrying, partisan allegiance with violent Democratic segregationists is infamously remembered to this day for his public manifestation of unrestrained, animalistic savagery unleashed upon civil rights advocates.

==Political career==

==Political career==

Connor was first elected to the Alabama House of Representatives in 1934.<ref name=politicalgraveyard/> Connor remained a loyal [[Democrat]] throughout his career and life.  In 1936 he was elected Commissioner of Public Safety of Birmingham, Alabama and served in that position for the better part of three decades.  A [[white supremacist]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=Eugene "Bull" Connor|url=http://encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/h-1091|access-date=2021-12-01|website=Encyclopedia of Alabama|language=en}}</ref> Connor enforced racial segregation laws passed by the [[Democratic party]]-controlled state legislature and denied [[civil rights]] to black citizens. He is notorious for directing the use of fire hoses and police attack dogs against civil rights activists in the early 1960s, including against children supporting the protests.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Meet the Players: Other Figures {{!}} American Experience {{!}} PBS|url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/meet-players-other-figures/|access-date=|website=PBS|language=en}}</ref> National media broadcast these tactics on television, horrifying much of the world. The outrages served as catalysts for passage of the [[Civil Rights Act of 1964]].

Connor was first elected to the Alabama House of Representatives in 1934.<ref name=politicalgraveyard/> Connor remained a loyal [[Democrat]] throughout his career and life.  In 1936 he was elected Commissioner of Public Safety of Birmingham, Alabama and served in that position for the better part of three decades.  A [[white supremacist]],<ref name=alencyclopediabio/> Connor enforced racial segregation laws passed by the [[Democratic party]]-controlled state legislature and denied [[civil rights]] to black citizens. He is notorious for directing the use of fire hoses and police attack dogs against civil rights activists in the early 1960s, including against children supporting the protests.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Meet the Players: Other Figures {{!}} American Experience {{!}} PBS|url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/meet-players-other-figures/|access-date=|website=PBS|language=en}}</ref> National media broadcast these tactics on television, horrifying much of the world. The outrages served as catalysts for passage of the [[Civil Rights Act of 1964]].

On December 26, 1951, the day following [[Christmas]], Connor was arrested in a hotel room for adultery with Christian Brown, his secretary.<ref name=politicalgraveyard/> Although fined, convicted, and sentenced to prison, the verdict was overturned the following year.

On December 26, 1951, the day following [[Christmas]], Connor was arrested in a hotel room for adultery with Christian Brown, his secretary.<ref name=politicalgraveyard/> Although fined, convicted, and sentenced to prison, the verdict was overturned the following year.