 When Connor realized that the Birmingham jail was full , on May 3 he changed police tactics to keep protesters out of the downtown business area . Another thousand students gathered at the church and left to walk across Kelly Ingram Park while chanting , " We 're going to walk , walk , walk . Freedom ... freedom ... freedom . " As the demonstrators left the church , police warned them to stop and turn back , " or you 'll get wet " . When they continued , Connor ordered the city 's fire hoses , set at a level that would peel bark off a tree or separate bricks from mortar , to be turned on the children . Boys ' shirts were ripped off , and young women were pushed over the tops of cars by the force of the water . When the students crouched or fell , the blasts of water rolled them down the asphalt streets and concrete sidewalks . Connor allowed white spectators to push forward , shouting , " Let those people come forward , sergeant . I want ' em to see the dogs work . " 
