The Freedom Rides were a series of nonviolent protests organized by activists of the civil rights movement in the United States in 1961. The rides were designed to challenge the segregated interstate bus terminals that existed in the Southern states despite being declared illegal by the Supreme Court.

Participants, both Black and white, rode buses through the South in integrated groups to protest the segregation of bus terminals and to demand equal treatment for all passengers. The Freedom Riders faced violent opposition, including mob attacks and arrests, as they sought to test the enforcement of the Supreme Court ruling banning segregation in interstate travel.

The Freedom Rides garnered national attention and ultimately led to the desegregation of interstate travel and facilities. The activists involved in the Freedom Rides played a significant role in the civil rights movement and helped bring about greater awareness of the ongoing struggle for racial equality in the United States.