|
||
|
Home Page Heroes Main Page Civil Rights....Civil Wrongs Food For Thought Speeches, Writing And Thoughts Black Sports In Alabama Links My Resume Contact Us Support thatsalabama.com |
THE FREEDOM RIDERS 
On May 4, 1961 the Congress on Racial Equality organized Freedom Riders left Washington D.C., on a "Journey of Reconciliation". Their aim was to test the new federal law against segregation by traveling by bus to New Orleans. Unfortunately, the journey never reached it's intended conclusion.
They set out on their journey with blacks and whites seated together. The first resistance that they met was in Rockville, South Carolina, where they were attacked by an angry mob as they pulled into the local bus station. Violent reactions to the riders intensified, but they continued on their journey. The attacks however, reached a crescendo as their journey continued into Alabama. As they arrived in Alabama on Mother's Day, the riders split into two groups. The first traveled to Anniston where they were met by a particularly ferocious mob. The bus, which had it's tires slashed, did not attempt to stop at the station. Instead, it tried to continue on it's journey with the mob following in cars. A few miles out of the city, the tires deflated, and the bus had to pull over to the side of the road. As it did so, the driver fled and bus was surrounded by the mob. A fire bomb was thrown into the vehicle which burst into flames. As the riders tried to escape the burning bus, the doors were held closed by the mob. This continued until one of the gas tanks exploded, at which point they backed away from the bus allowing the riders to make their escape. The second group traveled to Birmingham where they received a similar fate. The group were beaten as they tried to get off the bus, and they were forced to spend the night in a "colored's only" waiting room. It transpired that the FBI knew of the planned attack at the station, and the city police deliberately stayed away. After several days, a very reluctant bus company allowed a group of the riders to continue to Montgomery. They traveled under police protection until the Montgomery city limits, where the protection suddenly stopped. They were once again attacked as they arrived at the station. They were forced to take refuge from the angry mob in a church under the protection of federal marshals. Finally, at 3 A.M. the National Guard was sent in for protection and the mob finally dispersed. The riders were given safe passage into Mississippi, where their journey ended in Jackson on May 25, 1961. As they arrived at the station, there was no angry mob waiting for them, but the police were, where they were then arrested and jailed. They were only freed after local Mississippians raised the money to pay their bail. Links To Other Internet Resources concerning the Freedom Riders: Civil Rights Movement 1955 - 1965: Freedom Rides. CNN.com - Freedom Riders find 'an altogether different world'. 1961 Freedom Riders' 40th Reunion. CORE-Online - The Freedom Rides: CORE Volunteers put their lives on the Road. SIGN UP TO OUR EMAIL NEWSLETTER If you would like us to keep you updated with changes and improvements to thatsalabama.com, please enter your email address here: If you would like to support thatsalabama.com with a donation via paypal, please click on this button: |
|
Email webmaster@thatsalabama.com