Freedom+Rides

=Freedom Rides - 1960=

In 1961 CORE undertook a new tactic aimed at desegregating public transportation throughout the south. These tactics became know as the "Freedom Rides". The first Freedom Ride took place on May 4, 1961 when seven blacks and six whites left Washington, D.C., on two public buses bound for the Deep South. They intended to test the Supreme Court's ruling in Boynton v. Virginia (1960), which declared segregation in interstate bus and rail stations unconstitutional.

In the first few days, the riders encountered only minor hostility, but in the second week the riders were severely beaten. One of their buses were burnt down and several dozen whites attacked the riders; yet the riders persisted deciding that ending the trip due to violence would send the wrong signal to the country.The extreme violence and the indifference of local police prompted a national outcry of support for the riders, putting pressure on President Kennedy to end the violence.

On May 14, 1961, the Freedom Riders decided to divide into two groups to travel around Alabama. One group ran into trouble in Anniston, Alabama when 200 angry people stoned the bus and slashed the tires. The bus was able to get away, but when it stopped to change the tires, it was firebombed. The bus was destroyed but the people were able to get away with minor injuries. One hour later, the second bus arrived at Anniston; they were also attacked and beaten. The mob boarded the bus, sat at the front, and forced the Freedom Riders to sit in the back. The driver headed to Birmingham, Alabama. There, another mob attacked and beat up the Freedom Riders with pipes and fists. The police didn’t show up until after the beatings, even though they were only two blocks away.




 * __Sources__**
 * []
 * []
 * []