The Freedom Rides were a series of protests organized by civil rights activists in 1961 to challenge segregation laws in the southern United States. The rides involved interracial groups of activists traveling on buses from the North to the Southern states to protest segregated bus terminals and facilities.

The first Freedom Ride took place on May 4, 1961, when a group of thirteen activists, seven black and six white, set out on a Greyhound bus from Washington, D.C. Their goal was to test the Supreme Court decision Boynton v. Virginia, which ruled that segregated bus terminals were unconstitutional. The riders encountered violence and hostility along the way, with their buses being firebombed and the activists being attacked by white mobs.

Despite the dangers they faced, the Freedom Riders continued their protests, bringing national attention to the injustice of segregation in the South. The rides inspired more activists to join the movement, and eventually led to the desegregation of buses and bus terminals across the country.

The Freedom Rides were a pivotal moment in the Civil Rights Movement, demonstrating the power of nonviolent protest and civil disobedience in the fight for racial equality. The bravery and sacrifice of the Freedom Riders helped to advance the cause of civil rights for African Americans and paved the way for future activism and progress.