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Freedom Riders
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The First Ride
On May 4, a director of CORE leads 13 Freedom Riders, 7 black, 6 white, out of Washington
on Greyhound and Trailways buses. Their plan is to ride through Virginia, the Carolinas, Georgia,
Alabama, and Mississippi. Some of the Riders get arrested in North and South Carolina, but nothing to horrible happens during this first ride. -
Mob Attack in Birmingham, AL
When the bus Trailways arrived in Birmingham, it was attacked by a mob of KKK members. The mob boarded the
bus and beat the Riders leaving them brutally wounded. The FBI knew in advance that the two buses were going to be attacked, but they did nothing to prevent the violence or to
protect the Riders from assault. -
Burning Bus in Anniston, AL
In Anniston, Alabama one bus of the Riders (Greyhound) was fire bombed by a mob of angry protesters. As the bus was trying to leave, the mob smashed a window and threw in a fire bomb. Luckily, all of the riders survived because of the state safety officials. After this day the riders questioned if they wanted to continue their rides because they knew they were in danger. -
SNCC Student Resumes the Freedom Ride
The Riders decided to abandon the bus and fly directly to New Orleans from Birmingham becuase it would be safer. But when they first boarded the plane, everyone had to get out becuase there was a bomb threat. A Nashville college student and SNCC leader, pushed to find replacements to resume the rides. On May 17, 10 new set of students from Nashville, took a bus to Birmingham, where they were then arrested and jailed. Keeping their faith up in jail, they starting to sing freedom songs. -
Mobs in Montgomery, AL
The bus goes south towards Montgomery escorted by Alabama Highway Patrol cars. But when the bus reaches the Montgomery city limits the Highway Patrol suddenly disappears from both buses. When the Freedom Riders step off the bus, hundreds of Klansmen attack them. Reporters were also beaten, that way the media cannot let this fight spill out. The local police allowed the beatings to go on uninterrupted, which is a horrible thing to do coming from the police force. -
Arrests in Jackson, Mississippi
On Wednesday morning, May 24, Freedom Riders boarded buses for the journey to Jackson, Mississippi and they arrived unharmed thanks to Highway Patrol and National Guard. The Riders attempted to use “white only” restrooms and lunch counters, but they were immediately arrested. Abusive treatment occured in the jail, and as they sang, matresses and tothbrushes were taken away. The initial point of punishing the blacks in jail was to "bruise not bleed." -
"Cooling Off Period"
The Kennedy's called for a "cooling off period" and critisize the Rides as unpatriotic because they embarrassed the nation at the peak of the Cold War. Robert's comment angered civil rights supporters. But later, Robert F. Kennedy delivered a broadcast defending America's record on race relations to the rest of the world. He insisted that "there is no reason that in the near or the foreseeable future, a Negro could [not] become President of the United States." -
ICC Takes Down Signs
Attorney General Kennedy sent a petition to the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) asking them to obey the bus-desegregation ruling. The proposed order, issued on September 22 and effective on November 1, removed Jim Crow signs in stations and ended segregation of waiting rooms, water fountains, and restrooms in interstate bus terminals, giving the Freedom Riders a victory in their passionate campaign.
