United States, Alabama, Calhoun County, 33.77143, -85.82603United States, Alabama, Jefferson County, 33.55431, -86.89649United States, Alabama, Montgomery County, 32.22026, -86.20761United States, Georgia, Bibb County, 32.80659, -83.69776United States, Georgia, Dougherty County, 31.53337, -84.21625United States, Georgia, Fulton County, 33.79025, -84.46702United States, Georgia, Fulton County, Atlanta, 33.749, -84.38798United States, Georgia, Lowndes County, 30.83386, -83.26771United States, Georgia, Richmond County, 33.35963, -82.07355United States, Georgia, Richmond County, Augusta, 33.47097, -81.97484United States, Georgia, Thomas County, 30.86368, -83.91931United States, Georgia, Thomas County, Thomasville, 30.83658, -83.97878United States, Mississippi, Hinds County, 32.2667, -90.44282United States, North Carolina, 35.50069, -80.00032United States, South Carolina, York County, 34.97475, -81.18442United States, South Carolina, York County, Rock Hill, 34.92487, -81.02508United States, Southern States, 33.346678, -84.119434United States, Tennessee, Davidson County, 36.17069, -86.77753United States, Tennessee, Davidson County, Nashville, 36.16589, -86.78444United States, Virginia, 37.54812, -77.44675Hatfield, Edward A.2008-04-11Encyclopedia article about the Freedom Rides organized by the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) in the spring and summer of 1961. CORE sponsored a series of integrated bus rides throughout the South to test compliance with recent court rulings banning segregation in interstate travel. Subsequently known as the Freedom Rides, the protests garnered national support for civil reforms and forced the federal government's involvement in African Americans' struggle for freedom. Although Freedom Riders traveled unmolested through Georgia and were served courteously at several lunch counters throughout the state, they met with violent resistance elsewhere in the region, especially in Alabama. In the aftermath of Montgomery's violence, media attention increased, forcing the Kennedy administration to take a definitive position in defense of civil rights.The administration announced on May 29, 1961, that it had instructed the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) to ban segregation in all facilities under its jurisdiction. After months of delay, the ICC officially ruled segregation in interstate travel illegal on November 1, 1961.The Civil Rights Digital Library received support from a National Leadership Grant for Libraries awarded to the University of Georgia by the Institute of Museum and Library Services for the aggregation and enhancement of partner metadata.GSE identifier: SS8H11Forms part of the New Georgia Encyclopedia.http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/Forms part of the New Georgia Encyclopedia.Congress of Racial EqualityCivil rights--Southern StatesAfrican Americans--Civil rights--Southern StatesBuses--Southern StatesBus terminals--Southern StatesBus lines--Southern StatesTrailwaysGreyhound LinesRailroads--Southern StatesRailroad stations--Southern StatesRailroad travel--Southern StatesAfrican Americans--Travel--Southern StatesSegregation in transportation--Southern StatesSegregation--Southern StatesSegregationists--Southern StatesComplianceDiscrimination--Southern StatesRace discrimination--Southern StatesRace relationsSouthern States--Race relationsDiscrimination in restaurants--Southern StatesRestaurants--Southern StatesInterstate commerce--Southern StatesFederal-state controversies--Southern StatesIntervention (Federal government)--Southern StatesIntimidation--Southern StatesMobs--Southern StatesRiots--Southern StatesRace riots--Southern StatesRacism--Southern StatesWhite supremacy movements--Southern StatesViolence--Southern StatesSocial justice--Southern StatesAfrican Americans--Crimes against--Southern StatesOffenses against the person--Southern StatesOffenses against the person--South Carolina--Rock HillOffenses against the person--Alabama--BirminghamOffenses against the person--Alabama--MontgomerySouthern States--Politics and government--20th centurySouthern States--Social conditions--20th centurySouthern States--History--20th centuryJails--Southern StatesImprisonment--Southern StatesArrest--Southern StatesPolice--Southern StatesPolice chiefs--Southern StatesDirect action--Southern StatesNonviolence--Southern StatesKu Klux Klan (1915- )Assault and battery--South Carolina--Rock HillAssault and battery--Alabama--BirminghamAssault and battery--Alabama--MontgomeryAfrican Americans--Violence againstCivil rights workers--Violence againstIncendiary bombs--Alabama--AnnistonBombings--Alabama--AnnistonUnited States. Interstate Commerce CommissionCivil rights demonstrations--Georgia--AlbanyDemonstrations--Georgia--AlbanyGovernment, Resistance to--Southern StatesFreedom Rides, 1961Albany Movement (Albany, Ga.)Freedom RidesText