Freedom Riders follows the men and women who boarded buses and headed to the Deep South in the early 60s to engage in sit ins and protests to fight racial segregation. Fought with opposition from locals and politicians ranging from local government all the way to the governor's office, the participants were often victims of horrific violence. Their perseverance lead to the White House opening their eyes to the situation, the eventual passage of the Civil Rights Act, and the end of Jim Crow in the South. This documentary offers footage of the events and interviews with many of the riders themselves and even has an interview with Alabama governor John Patterson who opposed the riders' actions. Freedom Riders is a fine entry in the American Experience catalog and frighteningly captures an important moment in our nation's history.
Entertainment Magazine
Freedom Riders follows the men and women who boarded buses and headed to the Deep South in the early 60s to engage in sit ins and protests to fight racial segregation. Fought with opposition from locals and politicians ranging from local government all the way to the governor's office, the participants were often victims of horrific violence. Their perseverance lead to the White House opening their eyes to the situation, the eventual passage of the Civil Rights Act, and the end of Jim Crow in the South. This documentary offers footage of the events and interviews with many of the riders themselves and even has an interview with Alabama governor John Patterson who opposed the riders' actions. Freedom Riders is a fine entry in the American Experience catalog and frighteningly captures an important moment in our nation's history.
