Which event did the Freedom Riders mainly participate in during 1961?

• A. Banning of racial segregation in schools
• B. Bus trips to protest illegal bus segregation
• C. Registration of African American voters
• D. Marches for job equality

Answer: (B)

The Freedom Riders participated mainly in bus trips to protest illegal bus segregation in 1961. This movement involved interracial groups traveling on Greyhound and Trailways buses into the southern United States to challenge the segregation laws that were still enforced in many areas, despite the Supreme Court ruling that declared segregation on interstate buses unconstitutional in 1946.

The Freedom Riders faced hostility and violence, drawing national attention to the civil rights movement and highlighting the deep-seated racial discrimination that persisted in the country. Their actions were pivotal in illustrating the ongoing struggle for civil rights and were instrumental in spurring further legal and social changes regarding racial equality. Through these courageous bus trips, the Freedom Riders sought to confront and dismantle segregation directly, thereby pushing the boundaries of federal enforcement of civil rights.