The Freedom Rides

The Freedom Rides were a series of civil rights protests that took place in the early 1960s in the United States. Activists, both black and white, traveled on buses through the southern states to challenge segregation laws that enforced racial discrimination, particularly in public transport. The riders aimed to test a Supreme Court ruling that desegregated interstate travel. They faced violent resistance, arrests, and hostility, bringing national attention to the Civil Rights Movement. Their courageous efforts highlighted the ongoing struggle for racial equality and helped galvanize public support for civil rights reforms.