By: Alex BrownBy: Alex Brown

Freedom Rides:Freedom Rides:

In 1961, many Civil Rights Activists In 1961, many Civil Rights Activists from the Congress of Racial Equality rode from the Congress of Racial Equality rode interstate buses into the segregated interstate buses into the segregated southern part of the United States. southern part of the United States.

They wanted to They wanted to protest the United protest the United States Supreme States Supreme Court decision on Court decision on the case of the case of Boynton v. Boynton v. Virginia.Virginia.

Congress of Racial Equality (C.O.R.E) conducting Congress of Racial Equality (C.O.R.E) conducting a march in Washington D.C in 1960’s. a march in Washington D.C in 1960’s.

Boynton v. VirginiaBoynton v. Virginia was a was a United States Supreme Court United States Supreme Court case about an African case about an African American convicted of American convicted of trespassing in a “white only” trespassing in a “white only” restaurant in a public station. restaurant in a public station. This case overturned the This case overturned the man's conviction because man's conviction because racial segregation in public racial segregation in public transportation is transportation is unconstitutional and violates unconstitutional and violates the Interstate Commerce Act, the Interstate Commerce Act, which outlaws discrimination which outlaws discrimination in interstate transportation. in interstate transportation.

Boynton v VirginiaBoynton v Virginia led to a led to a movement called the Freedom Rides movement called the Freedom Rides because of the outlawing of racial because of the outlawing of racial segregation in public transportation. segregation in public transportation.

Stanley Nelson Jr.Stanley Nelson Jr. is an American is an American documentary filmmaker that was alive during documentary filmmaker that was alive during the Freedom Rides and made a documentary. the Freedom Rides and made a documentary.

Nelson feels this Nelson feels this is an emotional is an emotional story about the story about the beginning of the beginning of the civil rights civil rights movement with movement with ordinary, white ordinary, white and black people and black people helping change helping change this country.this country.

Stanley Nelson states Stanley Nelson states “many people know the “many people know the term “freedom riders” term “freedom riders” but don't know the but don't know the drama involved. Now is drama involved. Now is the perfect time to tell the perfect time to tell the story of the the story of the Freedom Riders.” Thus, Freedom Riders.” Thus, Nelson and his crew Nelson and his crew begin to make the film begin to make the film and take on a period of and take on a period of history usually history usually misunderstood in 1961, misunderstood in 1961, known as the known as the Freedom Freedom Riders. Riders.

Nelson’s main message was about the racial Nelson’s main message was about the racial segregation and inequality and how the United segregation and inequality and how the United States government focused their attention States government focused their attention elsewhere.elsewhere.

Nelson describes in 1961, many states were Nelson describes in 1961, many states were violently enforcing the racial segregation violently enforcing the racial segregation policies, however, the federal government and policies, however, the federal government and the Kennedy administration continued to focus the Kennedy administration continued to focus on matters abroad and take no action to stop on matters abroad and take no action to stop these policies.these policies.

Nelson described Nelson described how President how President Kennedy ordered for a Kennedy ordered for a ‘cooling off period’ ‘cooling off period’ and said the Freedom and said the Freedom Rides are unpatriotic Rides are unpatriotic and embarrass the and embarrass the United States. Robert United States. Robert Kennedy was even Kennedy was even quoted saying “the quoted saying “the Department of Justice Department of Justice cannot side with one cannot side with one group or the other in group or the other in disputes over disputes over Constitutional rights.”Constitutional rights.”

Another message in Another message in Freedom RidersFreedom Riders is how is how the Civil Rights activists are willing to do whatever the Civil Rights activists are willing to do whatever it takes to change the racial segregation policies.it takes to change the racial segregation policies.

The first Freedom Ride The first Freedom Ride started on May 5, started on May 5, 1961, when 13 1961, when 13 interracial riders interracial riders departed from departed from Washington D.C on Washington D.C on Greyhound and Greyhound and Trailway buses Trailway buses traveling to New traveling to New Orleans, Louisiana. Orleans, Louisiana. When the bus reached When the bus reached Rock Hill, South Rock Hill, South Carolina, one of the Carolina, one of the riders was beaten.riders was beaten.

Nelson illustrated how many Riders Nelson illustrated how many Riders were fearful but they were fearful but they continuedcontinued their their journey. When passing through journey. When passing through Atlanta, Georgia, the Greyhound bus Atlanta, Georgia, the Greyhound bus was stopped as it entered Alabama. was stopped as it entered Alabama.

A mob surrounded the bus, the tires A mob surrounded the bus, the tires were slashed, and the bus was set on were slashed, and the bus was set on fire. The bus was burned to the fire. The bus was burned to the ground, but the group took another ground, but the group took another bus and continued the rides. bus and continued the rides.

In Anniston, AL a violent mob boarded the In Anniston, AL a violent mob boarded the Trailway bus and beat the African-Americans Trailway bus and beat the African-Americans until they moved to the back of the bus. until they moved to the back of the bus.

These riders were assaulted, knocked These riders were assaulted, knocked unconscious and hospitalized. The group unconscious and hospitalized. The group gathered to show that violence can't stop them gathered to show that violence can't stop them and they will do whatever it takes to stop the and they will do whatever it takes to stop the segregation policies in the South. segregation policies in the South.

The prior events in The prior events in Anniston led to a Anniston led to a major riot in major riot in Montgomery, AL, Montgomery, AL, when three when three hundred mob hundred mob members gathered members gathered and began beating and began beating the riders until the the riders until the police authoritiespolice authorities finally showed up finally showed up and helpedand helped. .

James Zwerg was hospitalized after being beaten for his role in protesting.

Nelson's message of how the riders Nelson's message of how the riders being determined is escalated when the being determined is escalated when the riders continue through the riots and riders continue through the riots and eventually were escorted by the United eventually were escorted by the United States National Guardsmen. States National Guardsmen.

Over the next Over the next several months, several months, the riders the riders continued to continued to Jackson to Jackson to accomplish their accomplish their goal of goal of desegregating the desegregating the facilities. facilities.

Stanley Nelson spoke before the film Stanley Nelson spoke before the film and wanted the audience to respond and wanted the audience to respond with great empathy toward the with great empathy toward the determination that the Freedom Riders determination that the Freedom Riders showed, and anger toward the white showed, and anger toward the white authority with their lack of involvement. authority with their lack of involvement.

Sources:Sources:

John Lewis, Freedom Rider

Charles Person, Freedom Rider

John Seigenthaler, Witness

Diane Nash, Witness

Ray Arsenault, Author

Evan Thomas, Journalist

John Patterson, Governor of AL

Bull Connor, U.S. Politician

Global Impact:Global Impact:

The Freedom Rides surprised the The Freedom Rides surprised the American population because people American population because people were becoming worried that the Rides were becoming worried that the Rides were evoking widespread social were evoking widespread social disorder, racial problems. However, disorder, racial problems. However, the Freedom Rider's actions helped the Freedom Rider's actions helped impact the country because the impact the country because the authorities reconsidered the authorities reconsidered the segregation policies and ultimately segregation policies and ultimately removed them.removed them.

This movement inspired many civil rights This movement inspired many civil rights campaigns, including voter registration, freedom campaigns, including voter registration, freedom schools, and the black power movement that schools, and the black power movement that help shape our country into what it is today. help shape our country into what it is today.

A Black Power Movement in 1965

Freedom School in 1964 in Mississippi

Barack Obama’s presidency Barack Obama’s presidency would have not been possible if it would have not been possible if it wasn’t for the events that took wasn’t for the events that took place in the South in the 1960’s.place in the South in the 1960’s.