Those heroes occupy a special and honored place. Yes, America has a long line of heroes, and none more honorable than those who fought and died in military conflicts – from the Revolutionary War through WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan. More on this part of the story follows later. Mug shots of some of the more than 300 “freedom riders” who were arrested in Mississippi during the summer of 1961. Yet these arrests became part of the protest – and in this case, a badge of honor. Many of the riders were also arrested and jailed, especially in Mississippi. However, a number of the “freedom riders” were physically assaulted, chased, and/or threatened by white mobs, some beaten with pipes, chains and baseball bats. At least 436 individuals would ride buses and trains to make their point.

They were called “Freedom Riders.”īefore it was all over more than 60 “Freedom Rides” would criss-cross the South between May and November of 1961. All they set out to do was ride on a bus – or rather, insure that a person of any color could ride on a bus from one state to another. Their actions were innocent and non-violent.

They came to lend their presence and put their bodies on the line. Many were college students some from the seminary. They were black and white liberal and conservative Catholic, Protestant, and Jew. Eventually, there would be hundreds of them, acting over a five month period. No, in this case, the valor came from everyday Americans – civilians concerned about the state of their country. The acts of bravery came not from soldiers in battle or politicians taking a stand. Extraordinary courage stepped up to bigotry in America during the summer of 1961. A portion of the DVD cover for the 2011 PBS / American Experience film, “Freedom Riders,” by Stanley Nelson.

Freedom riders mugshots