The freedom rides were designed to test a ruling by the Supreme Court, which had declared that segregation in bus and train stations that were used for inter state transport (transport which crossed state lines) was not allowed.
The Freedom Ride left Washington DC on May 4th, 1961. They represented the continuation of non violent protest to end segregation. The plan was to arrive in New Orleans on May 17th. This Freedom Ride met little resistance in the Upper South.
However, the same was not true in Birmingham, Alabama, where the police chief, 'Bull' Connor, saw the Freedom Ride as a challenge to his authority in the city.
May 14th was Mother’s Day in Birmingham. Connor had given his police in the city the day off to celebrate the day with their family. However, it was also known that the Freedom Ride would be in the city on this day and that any protestors would not be policed. A mob of white southerners greeted the Riders and many on the bus were severely beaten. The bus they were riding was firebombed. Connor claimed that he knew nothing about the plans for the attack and the Freedom Riders received no support from Alabama’s governor.
In response to the failure of southern police to control the violence, President Kennedy sent in federal marshals in reinforce the Supreme Court ruling.
Why was this important in civil rights history? Maybe some detail.
Thank You.
The Freedom Ride left Washington DC on May 4th, 1961. They represented the continuation of non violent protest to end segregation. The plan was to arrive in New Orleans on May 17th. This Freedom Ride met little resistance in the Upper South.
However, the same was not true in Birmingham, Alabama, where the police chief, 'Bull' Connor, saw the Freedom Ride as a challenge to his authority in the city.
May 14th was Mother’s Day in Birmingham. Connor had given his police in the city the day off to celebrate the day with their family. However, it was also known that the Freedom Ride would be in the city on this day and that any protestors would not be policed. A mob of white southerners greeted the Riders and many on the bus were severely beaten. The bus they were riding was firebombed. Connor claimed that he knew nothing about the plans for the attack and the Freedom Riders received no support from Alabama’s governor.
In response to the failure of southern police to control the violence, President Kennedy sent in federal marshals in reinforce the Supreme Court ruling.
Why was this important in civil rights history? Maybe some detail.
Thank You.