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Freedom Riders. Founding and Purpose . On May 4 th of 1961, the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) organized “Freedom Rides.” To integrate blacks’ and whites’ rights. First Freedom Riders. 13 blacks and whites Boarded two buses Goal-Washington D.C. to New Orleans. Protests. Blacks-
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Founding and Purpose • OnMay 4th of 1961, the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) organized “Freedom Rides.” • To integrate blacks’ and whites’ rights
First Freedom Riders • 13 blacks and whites • Boarded two buses • Goal-Washington D.C. to New Orleans
Protests Blacks- • Sat in white-reserved bus seats • Would use white-only facilities when resting
Violence in Alabama Anniston- • One of the buses was firebombed and the other had its passengers beaten by K.K.K. members who entered the bus Birmingham- • Freedom riders were beaten with baseball bats and iron pipes
Escort to Montgomery • Alabama Highway Patrol • Abandoned buses at city limits • Were mobbed by whites at bus stop • Freedom rides were temporarily stopped until replacements arrived
John F. Kennedy • President of the United States during 1961 • Allowed Mississippi and Alabama police to arrest segregation law violators as long as they stopped violent outbreaks • All freedom riders to violate segregation laws after May 23rd, 1961 in Mississippi or Alabama were unharmed by mobs, arrested by police, and had their rides discontinued