The Freedom Riders
![Picture](/uploads/1/9/7/7/19775881/9002650.jpg?344)
The Freedom Riders began with members of the Nashville Student Group deciding to us1e their successful methods of desegregating to end Jim-Crow Laws in the South. The Freedom Riders were a group of black and white, young and old, men and women who were dedicated to ending segregation through non-violence methods. The Freedom Riders would all sit unsegregated on buses together, enter white and colored areas, and even ate lunch together. The Riders did encounter many angry mobs and beatings but this would not put an end to their non-violent approach. The Freedom Riders did not stop until May, 14th, 1961 when they encountered an angry mob Anniston, Alabama and were forced to turn around and leave the station without stopping there. The mob managed to slash the tires of the bus causing is to break down a few miles outside of Annisto. As the bus broke down and the bus driver fled a firebomb was thrown inside the bus and it exploded with the Riders still inside. They were finally able to exit the bus as it exploded. The Freedom Riders did not stop then but they continued their rides despite all they encountered. The Freedom Riders were even arrested in Jackson and instead of posting bail decided to stay in jail for forty days before moving to a maximum security facility. Although they were segregated and treated harshly the Riders put up with this and responded by singing freedom songs from their cells. After being released from prison the Freedom Riders continued in their effort to end segregation and five months after the first Freedom Rides the ICC issued a Federal order banning segregation at all interstate public facilities based on “race, color or creed".