the sclc was created in 1957, after the civil rights movement's successful montgomery bus boycott. on january 10, 1957, dr. martin luther king, jr. invited about 60 black pastors and leaders to atlanta, georgia. their goal, at the time, was to end segregation on buses in the southern united states. however, they agreed that they would only use non-violent ways of protesting and trying to make change. their motto was: "not one hair on one head of one white person shall be harmed."