On 4 May 1961, 13 Freedom Riders left Washington, D.C., in two buses and headed to New Orleans to challenge segregation in the South. The violence they braved propelled the activists to national prominence and forever changed the face of the civil rights movement. | The Legal Defense Fund

They faced firebombing, mob violence, and arrest as they traveled through the South to end segregation on interstate buses. John Lewis was one of them. This is the story of the Freedom Riders. | Brut

90 shares | On May 4th, 1961 The Freedom Riders left Washington D.C. and traveled by bus through the South. When they finally arrived in Jackson, MS they were immediately arrested. Their treatment at Parchman Farm drew the attention of then-President, John F. Kennedy, and the nation. This marked a pivotal moment in the civil rights movement. Learn more about Mississippi history in MPB's series "A Thread Through Time" on our YouTube channel. | MPB - Mississippi Public Broadcasting | Facebook