Freedom Riders

Freedom Riders

The Freedom Riders were civil rights activists who rode interstate buses into the segregated southern United States in 1961 and subsequent years to challenge the non-enforcement of the United States Supreme Court decisions Boynton v. Virginia (1960) and Morgan v. Virginia (1946), which ruled that segregated public buses were unconstitutional. The Southern states had ignored the rulings and the federal government did not enforce them.

Background

The Freedom Riders were inspired by the 1947 Journey of Reconciliation, organized by the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) and the Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR), which tested the Supreme Court's ruling in Morgan v. Virginia that declared segregation in interstate bus travel unconstitutional. Despite this ruling, Southern states continued to enforce segregation laws.

The 1961 Freedom Rides

In 1961, CORE, led by James Farmer, organized the Freedom Rides to test the Supreme Court's decision in Boynton v. Virginia, which extended the earlier ruling to include bus terminals and other facilities associated with interstate travel. The first Freedom Ride left Washington, D.C. on May 4, 1961, and was scheduled to arrive in New Orleans, Louisiana on May 17.

The Journey

The Freedom Riders faced violent opposition in the Deep South. In Anniston, Alabama, one of the buses was firebombed, and the riders were beaten by a mob. In Birmingham, Alabama, the riders were attacked by a group of Ku Klux Klan members with the complicity of local police. Despite these attacks, the Freedom Riders continued their journey.

Federal Intervention

The violence against the Freedom Riders garnered national and international attention, forcing the Kennedy administration to intervene. The Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) was pressured to enforce stricter regulations prohibiting segregation in interstate travel.

Impact and Legacy

The Freedom Rides were a pivotal moment in the Civil Rights Movement. They demonstrated the power of nonviolent protest and the importance of federal enforcement of civil rights laws. The actions of the Freedom Riders led to the desegregation of interstate transportation facilities and inspired future civil rights activism.

Notable Figures

• James Farmer - Co-founder of CORE and leader of the Freedom Rides.
• Diane Nash - A key organizer and strategist for the Freedom Rides.
• John Lewis - A prominent civil rights leader who participated in the Freedom Rides.

See Also

• Civil Rights Movement
• Montgomery Bus Boycott
• Selma to Montgomery marches

References

• Arsenault, Raymond. Freedom Riders: 1961 and the Struggle for Racial Justice. Oxford University Press, 2006.
• "Freedom Riders." CORE. [1]

External Links

• PBS American Experience: Freedom Riders