 Desegregation in Birmingham took place slowly after the demonstrations . King and the SCLC were criticized by some for ending the campaign with promises that were too vague and " settling for a lot less than even moderate demands " . In fact , Sydney Smyer , president of the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce , re @-@ interpreted the terms of the agreement . Shuttlesworth and King had announced that desegregation would take place 90 days from May 15 . Smyer then said that a single black clerk hired 90 days from when the new city government took office would be sufficient . By July , most of the city 's segregation ordinances had been overturned . Some of the lunch counters in department stores complied with the new rules . City parks and golf courses were opened again to black and white citizens . Mayor Boutwell appointed a biracial committee to discuss further changes . However , no hiring of black clerks , police officers , and firefighters had yet been completed and the Birmingham Bar Association rejected membership by black attorneys . 
