May 4: 50th Anniversary of the Freedom Rides

On this day in 1961, a group of activists left Washington, DC by bus in order to travel through the South and challenge segregation at bus stations and other facilities. The actions of the Freedom Riders led to desegregation of interstate travel, and the Freedom Rides represents a turning point in the Civil Rights Movement.

You can read more in the New Georgia Encyclopedia and find photos, newsfilm clips, oral histories, and government records related to this event in the Civil Rights Digital Library. History Reference Center also offers several articles about the Freedom Rides.

There will also be several events to commemorate the day as well as a showing of the film Freedom Riders, a production of American Experience, on PBS on May 16th.

Image from the New Georgia Encyclopedia