 On May 2 , more than a thousand students skipped school and gathered at the 16th Street Baptist Church . The principal of Parker High School attempted to lock the gates to keep students in , but they scrambled over the walls to get to the church . Demonstrators were given instructions to march to the downtown area , to meet with the Mayor , and integrate the chosen buildings . They were to leave in smaller groups and continue on their courses until arrested . Marching in disciplined ranks , some of them using walkie @-@ talkies , they were sent at timed intervals from various churches to the downtown business area . More than 600 students were arrested ; the youngest of these was reported to be eight years old . Children left the churches while singing hymns and " freedom songs " such as " We Shall Overcome " . They clapped and laughed while being arrested and awaiting transport to jail . The mood was compared to that of a school picnic . Although Bevel informed Connor that the march was to take place , Connor and the police were dumbfounded by the numbers and behavior of the children . They assembled paddy wagons and school buses to take the children to jail . When no squad cars were left to block the city streets , Connor , whose authority extended to the fire department , used fire trucks . The day 's arrests brought the total number of jailed protesters to 1 @,@ 200 in the 900 @-@ capacity Birmingham jail . 
