About. |
What is a freedom rider?
A freedom rider is someone who went on trip through the south of America. These were groups of civil right activists (white and African American). What were they doing? They went on this trip to protest the segregated bus terminals. |
What was their plan?
The original plan was to be able to reach New Orleans on May 17 to celebrate the seventh anniversary of the Brown v Board decision. Learn more about the Brown V Board court case by clicking the link above!
|
buses
2 |
original riders
13 |
months
8 |
this was violent |
They traveled through Virginia and North Carolina, but did not obtain a lot of public notice.
|
The first act of violence occurred in Rock Hill, South Carolina. On May 12, John Lewis, an African American student and member of the SNCC, was viciously attacked upon entry of a whites-only waiting area. He was accompanied by a white WWII veteran and another African American freedom rider.
|
Mobs would follow the buses and pop their tires, and they even once bombed the bus. When they escaped the flames on the bus, they were greeted by the mob and beaten.
|