Freedom Rides were essential for making sure that states were complying with the desegregation of buses. In 1961 freedom rides were organized by the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) to see if the Supreme Court’s declaration that the segregation of transportation facilities was unconstitutional actually desegregated the bus system. The SNCC was involved in the rides as well. CORE, CNCC and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) formed a coordinating committee to organize the freedom riders. The freedom riders wanted to attempt to ride buses through seven southern states until they reached New Orleans. Some leaders of this campaign were Diane Nash, John Lewis, and Bernard Lafayette. At first they had little to no conflict going through North Carolina and Virginia but when they got to South Carolina Lewis and a few other riders were attacked by white citizens. Despite the
…show more content…
Attorney General and other officials helped to get them on a plane to New Orleans. However, another group from Nashville led by Diane Nash planned to attempt to try the bus rides again from where the original riders left off. These students were determined to show that they would not be deterred by violence. At first they had a police presence but then when city limits were reached they were attacked by white supremacists who attacked the media that were there as well. The horrible violence experienced that day caused some riders to be hospitalized because they had gotten beaten so badly. After this incident, Robert Kennedy sent federal marshals to escort them. However, when the riders reached Jackson they were arrested and had to serve sixty days in jail. The freedom riders efforts did not go to waste because the media coverage showed the violence caused by the institutional racism in America and helped to get the Interstate Commerce Commision to desegregate all interstate bus
Attorney General and other officials helped to get them on a plane to New Orleans. However, another group from Nashville led by Diane Nash planned to attempt to try the bus rides again from where the original riders left off. These students were determined to show that they would not be deterred by violence. At first they had a police presence but then when city limits were reached they were attacked by white supremacists who attacked the media that were there as well. The horrible violence experienced that day caused some riders to be hospitalized because they had gotten beaten so badly. After this incident, Robert Kennedy sent federal marshals to escort them. However, when the riders reached Jackson they were arrested and had to serve sixty days in jail. The freedom riders efforts did not go to waste because the media coverage showed the violence caused by the institutional racism in America and helped to get the Interstate Commerce Commision to desegregate all interstate bus