The Freedom Rides were a series of bus trips taken by civil rights activists in 1961 to challenge segregation laws in the Southern United States. The rides were organized by the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) in an effort to test a 1960 Supreme Court ruling that declared segregation on interstate buses and in bus terminals unconstitutional.

The participants, both Black and white, rode buses through the South, intentionally sitting together in the front of the bus in defiance of local segregation laws. They faced violent opposition from white supremacists who attacked them with beatings, bombings, and arrests. Despite the dangers, the Freedom Riders persisted in their mission to draw attention to the injustices of segregation and discrimination.

The Freedom Rides were instrumental in raising awareness about civil rights issues and increasing public support for the movement. They put pressure on the federal government to enforce desegregation laws and played a significant role in the eventual desegregation of interstate travel and public accommodations.

Overall, the Freedom Rides were a pivotal moment in the civil rights movement, demonstrating the power of nonviolent protest and collective action in the fight for equality and justice.