 The SCLC decided that economic pressure on Birmingham businesses would be more effective than pressure on politicians , a lesson learned in Albany as few blacks were registered to vote in 1962 . In the spring of 1963 , before Easter , the Birmingham boycott intensified during the second @-@ busiest shopping season of the year . Pastors urged their congregations to avoid shopping in Birmingham stores in the downtown district . For six weeks supporters of the boycott patrolled the downtown area to make sure blacks were not patronizing stores that promoted or tolerated segregation . If black shoppers were found in these stores , organizers confronted them and shamed them into participating in the boycott . Shuttlesworth recalled a woman whose $ 15 hat ( $ 120 in 2016 ) was destroyed by boycott enforcers . Campaign participant Joe Dickson recalled , " We had to go under strict surveillance . We had to tell people , say look : if you go downtown and buy something , you 're going to have to answer to us . " After several business owners in Birmingham took down " white only " and " colored only " signs , Commissioner Connor told business owners that if they did not obey the segregation ordinances , they would lose their business licenses . 
