A white mob twice attacks a Freedom Riders bus near Anniston, Alabama, before fire-bombing the bus and attacking the civil rights protesters who flee the burning vehicle.
ㅤOn May 14th, 1961, Freedom Riders, a group of civil rights activists, embarked on a journey from Atlanta to challenge segregation in interstate bus travel. Their journey was met with brutal violence in Birmingham, Alabama, where a mob of Klansmen, aided by police, attacked the first bus with a firebomb, forcing the riders to seek medical attention. Upon arrival in Birmingham, the second bus was met with another mob wielding baseball bats and pipes, leaving riders like James Peck severely injured. These vicious attacks, captured in shocking photographs, became defining images of the Freedom Rides and the fight for civil rights.
ㅤDespite the violence and intimidation, the Freedom Riders were determined to continue their journey. However, they faced further obstacles as Greyhound bus drivers refused to transport them, fearing for their safety. News of the attacks reached Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, who attempted to de-escalate the situation while arranging for an escort to ensure the riders’ safe passage to Montgomery, Alabama, where further challenges awaited them.
Paul M. Krueger 
Leave a comment