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Thritheen African Americans and whute Americans boarded two interstate buses headed south
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John Lewis was savagely beaten by a KKK member Elwin Wilson
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An angry mob of about 200 whites surrounded the bus, causing the driver to continue past the bus station. They followed the buses in car and when the buses tires blew out, the whites threw bomb in the bus.
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A Trailways vehicle traveled to Birmingham, Alabama and those riders were also beaten by an angry white mob, many of whom brandished metal pipes
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The riders arrived in New Orleans, Louisanna to celebrate the anniversary of the Brown v. Board decision that outlawed segregation in schools. They were also there to test the Supreme Court decision on the Boynton v. Virginia case.
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On the 19th the arrived in Atlanta, Georgia and recieved a speech from Martin Luther King Jr. to promote them on what they're doing. Along with the Martin Luther King, The Freedom Riders were inspired by the 1947 Journey of Reconciliation.
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The bus headed toward Montgomery at 90 miles an hour escorted by Alabama Highway Patrol cars, and the bus and patrol cars then dissapeared a few hours later.
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More than 1200 Black citizens pack Reverend Abernathy's 1st Baptist church to honor the Freedom Riders.
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The Freedom Riders were immediately arrested by the police while trying to integrate interstate travel facilities in Jackson, including the Greyhound and Trailways bus stations, the Illinois Central train station, and the municipal airport at Hawkins Field.
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Freedom Riders were found guilty of breach of peace and fined $200 and given a 60 day suspended sentence. Refusing to admit guilt by paying the fine or posting bail, the riders chose to remain in jail for 39 days.
