The Freedom Rides were a series of bus trips organized by civil rights activists in 1961 to challenge segregation laws in the Southern United States. The core idea behind the Freedom Rides was to test the Supreme Court ruling in Boynton v. Virginia (1960), which declared segregated bus terminals unconstitutional, but which many Southern states were ignoring.

The first Freedom Ride began on May 4, 1961, when a mixed group of African American and white activists, known as the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), boarded two buses bound for the South. Their journey was met with violence and opposition from white segregationists, who attacked the riders and burned one of the buses in Anniston, Alabama.

Despite the violence, the Freedom Riders persisted, and their actions brought national attention to the issue of segregation in interstate travel. As more Freedom Rides were organized, more activists joined the cause, leading to hundreds of arrests and further acts of violence.

The impact of the Freedom Rides was significant, as they played a crucial role in pressuring the federal government to enforce desegregation laws and ultimately led to the Interstate Commerce Commission issuing regulations prohibiting segregation in interstate bus and rail stations.

Overall, the Freedom Rides were a pivotal moment in the civil rights movement, as they demonstrated the power of nonviolent direct action in challenging racial segregation and discrimination. The bravery and determination of the Freedom Riders helped pave the way for greater civil rights advancements in the years that followed.