The reason Martin Luther King, Jr. picked Birmingham, AL as one of the locations for his peaceful demonstrations was not because it was his childhood home or one of Kennedy's favorite cities. It was primarily because he knew it would attract TV coverage, which would bring national attention to the civil rights movement and the injustices faced by African Americans.
By choosing Birmingham, King aimed to expose the segregation and racial discrimination that were prevalent in the city, hoping that the images of peaceful protesters being met with violent resistance would sway public opinion and garner support for the civil rights cause. The strategic selection of Birmingham as a demonstration site was a key element in the movement's efforts to bring about social change and advance the fight for equality.