The Freedom Rides of 1961

The Freedom Rides of 1961
By: Ronlynn Lee

The Freedom riders journeyed with civil rights activist on interstate buses into the segregated southern United States. They did this so they could test the United States Supreme Court decision Boynton v. Virginia in 1960. This decision had ended segregation for passengers that are engaged in interstate travel. In 1960 the first of the freedom riders left Washington D.C on May 4, 1961 and were scheduled to arrive in New Orleans on May 17. While on their journey through the deep south, they began to integrate seating patterns and desegregate bus terminals, including restrooms and water fountains.


This later became a dangerous mission. One bus was firebombed in Anniston, Alabama forcing all the passengers to flee for their lives. An F.B.I informant reported that in Birmingham, Alabama a public safety commissioner Eugene “Bull” Conner gave the Ku Klux Klan or KKK members 15 minutes to attack an incoming group of freedom riders, right before having the police protect them. The riders were beaten so bad it looked like a bulldog had gotten a hold of them.


This upsets me when I read about what my ancestors had to go through. There are so many kids that take life for granted. If they only knew how hard it was to not be able to make your own decision. Having to drink out of dirty water fountains or not being able to eat in a nice restaurant and not being able to use clean restrooms. I believe that all young people around my age should sit back and really think about what our ancestors did so that we could have a better life.


By: Ronlynn Lee






For more information on the Freedom Riders you can check on this youtube video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-UE6n6JnM4