The Freedom Rides was a campaign, lead by Aboriginal student Charles Perkins, that highlighted and brought international attention to the racism, poor state of Aboriginal health, education and housing in western and coastal New South Wales towns. This event was significant in the history of civil rights for Indigenous Australians. The campaign consisted of a group formed at the University of Sydney called Student Action for Aborigines (SAFA), who travelled around NSW towns protesting the rights for Aboriginal people, aiming to decrease the socially discriminatory barriers existing between the Aboriginal and white community. They were witness to violence and serious discrimination as they protested and picketed at community segregation areas
