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Washington, DC
The thirteen freedom riders depart from Washington, DC, to pursue their non violent dreams of desegregating different places across the harsh south. -
Charlotte, North Carolina
The first significant confrontation occurs on May 8th, delaying their ride a few days. Joseph Perkins is accused of trespassing in a whites-only shoe shine area. He was arrested and held in jail for a night due to refusal of accepting bail. The court then ruled in unconstitutional and he was let free. -
Rock Hill, South Carolina
Several white men attack the CORE Freedom Riders at the Greyhound bus terminal when the riders attempt to enter a white-only waiting room. John Lewis, Al Bigelow and Genevive Hughes were all able to get out without massive injury while the local police came and broke up the fight. -
Atlanta, GA
The Riders meet with Martin Luther King in Georgia and attend a reception. They ask if he would like to become a freedom rider himself, but he declines. He warns them that the KKK has a hefty welcoming supprise when they arrive in Alabama and for them to reconsider their bus path. They continue riding through the deep south on May 14th. -
Birmingham, Alabama
Bull Connor's police department made a deal with the KKK that they would have 15 minutes to burn, kill, hurt, bomb, and maim the riders when they arrive at the terminal. The riders were seriously injured upon arrival. -
Anniston, Alabama
James Peck, a lucky survivor of the Anniston attack, describes how when his Greyhound bus pulled into Anniston, it was attacked by an angry mob of white Americans. They used Iron bars to break and shatter the bus, but fortunately the police showed up and was able to get the bus back on its way. Unfortunately, the bus was being followed by the mob in cars and the attacks began through the bus windows. A bomb was soon thrown into the bus and all those aboard had to evacuate. Some were not injured -
Nashville, TN
Dianne Nash sends a "fresh group" of freedom riders from Fisk University, Tennesee State University and American Baptist Tehological Seminary board busses to Birmingham. -
New Orleans, Louisiana
As the Freedom Riders arrive and the airport in New Orleans, they are met by an angry mob of white-police officers. As they passed to meet up with the CORE volunteers, the police officers shouted racial comments and epithets at them. -
Admore, Alabama
Seven riders who were stuck in jail the previous days were driven from the jail to the Tennesee boarder. Bull Connor and other police men take riders in the undercover darkness to Ardmore, Alabama. The riders are left on the side of the and are told to find their way back to nashvillle. They take refuge in an old black couples home. Dianne Nash makes arrangements to send a car to drive the riders to Birmingham. -
Montgomery, Alabama
The Nashville riders travel from Birmingham to Montgomery escorted by state troopers. The troopers then depart from the riders before the riders arrive at the greyhound terminal. When they reach the terminal, they are met by more than 200 people who attack not just the riders, but the reporters and others. This results in 20 seriously injured. The riders take refuge in the First Baptist Church in Montgomery, along with Dr. King. The mob awaits outside untill driven away by state troopers. -
Jackson, Mississippi
The Riders arrive in Jackson Mississippi which is their final stop. When they arrive, they are arrested under formal charges on incitement, breach of peace and failure to obey a police officer. -
Parchman State Prison Farm
During the summer of 1961, after many riders were arrested, they were sent to Parchman State Prison Farm. They were incarcerated at first and the Jackson City jail, then at the Hinds County Jail. The conditions were terrible at the Farm but the prisioners managed to support each other.