Lesson 15: 1961 Freedom Rides Flashcards
Which civil rights group led the freedom rides?
CORE
When was the first freedom ride? And why?
May 1961
Wanted to test integration of buses following the supreme court ruling in 1956
What happened in first freedom ride?
James Farmer and 12 volunteers left Washington DC to travel to New Orleans
What happened on the trip?
Alabama= white racists used clubs and chains to attack the black americans and burned their bus.
Montgomery= white racists beat up the freedom riders
Mississippi= 27 riders were jailed for 67 days
What happened when the freedom riders reached Birmingham, Alabama?
Attacked by an angry mob
Police Chief Eugene ‘Bull’ Connor had purposely given most of the police the day off
Who did the freedom rides and the attacks force to take action?
President John F Kennedy and his brother Robert Kennedy, the Attorney General.
They sent in US marshals to enforce the law.
What happened on the 22nd of September 1961?
The Interstate Commerce Commission re-issued the regulation segregation in bus terminals had ended
