May 1961

Thirteen Freedom Riders — seven Black, six white — organized by CORE departed Washington D.C. on two buses to test the Boynton ruling in Deep South states. Riders included John Lewis, James Farmer, and Genevieve Hughes. They aimed to force federal enforcement of desegregation of interstate travel facilities.

A Greyhound bus carrying Freedom Riders was stopped outside Anniston, Alabama by a mob of Klan members who slashed the tires and firebombed the bus. Riders escaped the burning bus only to be beaten with clubs. Twelve Riders were hospitalized. An FBI informant was present but did not intervene.

A second bus carrying Freedom Riders arrived in Birmingham, Alabama the same day as the Anniston firebombing. A mob — given 15 minutes by Public Safety Commissioner Bull Connor to attack the Riders before police arrived — beat passengers with baseball bats and iron pipes. Rider James Peck required 53 stitches.

On Mother's Day, a Freedom Rider bus was firebombed by Klan members outside Anniston, Alabama. Riders who escaped were beaten with pipes. A second bus reached Birmingham, where Commissioner Bull Connor arranged police absence; riders were beaten by Klan members with baseball bats, metal pipes, and chains. FBI informant Gary Thomas Rowe participated in the Birmingham beatings.

A Freedom Rider bus was firebombed by Klan members outside Anniston, Alabama. A second bus reached Birmingham, where Commissioner Connor arranged police absence; riders were beaten by Klan with baseball bats and pipes. FBI informant Gary Thomas Rowe participated in the Birmingham beatings.

A mob of hundreds attacked Freedom Riders at the Montgomery Greyhound terminal. John Lewis and Jim Zwerg were severely beaten. Presidential aide John Seigenthaler, who tried to intervene, was beaten unconscious. Attorney General Robert Kennedy dispatched 400 federal marshals to restore order.

Freedom Riders arriving at Montgomery, Alabama's Greyhound station were attacked by a white mob while police stood aside. John Lewis was beaten with a crate. Presidential aide John Seigenthaler was beaten unconscious trying to help a female rider. Attorney General Robert Kennedy had negotiated assurances of protection with Alabama officials that were not honored.

Freedom Riders arriving in Jackson, Mississippi were immediately arrested for breach of peace and trespassing when they entered the whites-only terminal facilities. Over the summer of 1961, more than 300 Freedom Riders were arrested in Jackson; many were sent to Parchman Farm, Mississippi's notorious state penitentiary.

Over 300 Freedom Riders were arrested in Jackson, Mississippi and sent to Parchman Farm state penitentiary, where they were held in cells designed for maximum discomfort. Guards removed mattresses in the heat, used physical force, and placed riders in maximum-security cells. The strategy was to break morale; instead the movement grew. Riders were charged with 'breach of peace.'

Over 300 Freedom Riders arrested in Jackson, Mississippi were sent to Parchman Farm penitentiary, where guards removed mattresses in heat and used physical force. Riders were charged with 'breach of peace.' The strategy aimed to break morale; instead the movement grew.

Interracial riders challenge segregated buses and terminals, met with mob violence.