Freedom Riders

The Freedom Riders were civil rights activists in the early 1960s who challenged racial segregation in the Southern United States. They traveled on buses through the South, testing a Supreme Court ruling that declared segregated facilities for interstate travelers unconstitutional. Despite facing violent opposition, they aimed to enforce desegregation in public transportation and provoke federal intervention. Their courageous efforts highlighted the struggle against racial injustice and helped galvanize public support for civil rights legislation, ultimately contributing to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.