The Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) was founded in 1942 by a group of interracial activists in Chicago. CORE was one of the leading civil rights organizations of the 1960s, working to end segregation and discrimination through nonviolent direct action.

One of CORE's most notable achievements was the Freedom Rides of 1961, in which activists rode buses through the South to challenge segregation on interstate buses and in bus terminals. Despite facing violence and arrests, the Freedom Riders brought national attention to the issue of segregation and helped to push for enforcement of desegregation laws.

CORE also played a key role in organizing and participating in the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his iconic "I Have a Dream" speech.

CORE continued to be active in the civil rights movement throughout the 1960s, working on issues such as voting rights, fair housing, and employment discrimination. Today, CORE remains active in promoting racial equality and social justice.