The Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) was founded in 1942 by a group of interracial civil rights activists in Chicago. CORE played a significant role in the Civil Rights Movement by advocating for nonviolent direct action to combat racial discrimination and segregation. One of their most notable campaigns was the Freedom Rides in 1961, where they organized integrated bus rides through the South to challenge segregated bus terminals.

CORE also played a key role in organizing the landmark March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech. The organization continued to be active in the fight for civil rights and social justice throughout the 1960s and beyond.

CORE's commitment to nonviolent protest and direct action served as an inspiration for many other civil rights organizations and activists during the turbulent era of the Civil Rights Movement. The organization's legacy continues to be honored for its contributions to the struggle for racial equality in the United States.