The Freedom Riders were civil rights activists who rode buses through the American South in the early 1960s to challenge the segregation of public transportation and facilities. The Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) organized these integrated groups of activists to test and protest the Supreme Court's ruling that segregation on public buses was unconstitutional.

The first Freedom Ride took place on May 4, 1961, when thirteen riders, seven Black and six white, boarded two buses in Washington, D.C. Their journey was met with violent resistance in the South, including attacks by white mobs and arrests by local authorities. The riders faced severe violence in places like Anniston, Alabama, and Birmingham, Alabama.

The Freedom Riders were instrumental in bringing national attention to the injustices of segregation and helped push the Kennedy administration to enforce desegregation laws. Their bravery and determination paved the way for further civil rights activism and legislation, such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which outlawed segregation in public facilities and accommodations. The Freedom Riders' actions were a significant part of the broader Civil Rights Movement and their efforts are remembered as a crucial chapter in Black history.