This week marks the 50th anniversary of the Freedom Riders of the campaign - that white activists were determined to strike for civil rights. On May 4, 1961, they boarded buses to New Orleans, the intention to defy the segregation laws on the road.

At that time, federal law has required all interstate transportation - like the Greyhound bus - to be integrated. But in Alabama, Mississippi and other southern states, the law was not applied.

freedom riders

Of course, there were African-Americans who were part of the Freedom Rider campaign as well, but the point hinged on white people. The strategy was to force police in the South to defend segregation by arresting, jailing and, in many cases, beating other white people, thus causing an embarrassing spectacle.