Montgomery in Montgomery County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

Civil Rights Freedom Riders

May 20, 1961

Photographed by Mark Hilton, July 18, 2020

1. Civil Rights Freedom Riders Marker

Inscription. On May 20, 1961, a group of black and white SNCC members led by John Lewis left Birmingham for Montgomery on a Greyhound bus. They were determined to continue the "Freedom Ride" from Washington, D.C. to New Orleans that had met with violence in Birmingham. Their purpose was to test a court case, "Boynton vs. Virginia," declaring segregation in bus terminals unconstitutional. Upon arriving in Montgomery, their police escort disappeared, and an angry mob of over 200 Klan supporters attacked and injured them at the Greyhound terminal. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy was so enraged that he sent in 450 U.S. Marshals and thus became active in the movement.

Erected 1995 by Greyhound and Kenneth Mullinax Jr.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights. A significant historical month for this entry is May 1994.

Location. 32° 22.479′ N, 86° 18.54′ W. Marker is in Montgomery, Alabama, in Montgomery County. It is at the intersection of South Court Street and Adams Avenue, on the right when traveling south on South Court Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal

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address: 210 S Court St, Montgomery AL 36104, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Alabama’s Tri-Counties River Region.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

and in the Black Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Let Freedom Ride (here, next to this marker); Lomax House, 1848 (within shouting distance of this marker); The Frank M. Johnson, Jr. Federal Building and US Courthouse (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Ladies Memorial Association (about 300 feet away); Montgomery County World War II Monument (about 300 feet away); Korean War (about 400 feet away); First Baptist Church (about 600 feet away); Montgomery County Korean War Veterans (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers

Civil Rights Freedom Riders Marker in front of former Greyhound Bus Station. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, October 9, 2016

2. Civil Rights Freedom Riders Marker in front of former Greyhound Bus Station.

in Montgomery.

Other markers no longer nearby. The Reality (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); The Freedom Rides (was a few steps from this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Former & Current Freedom Rider markers at the Bus Station.

Also see . . . Freedom Rides of 1961 (pdf file). (Submitted on January 12, 2014, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)

Credits. This page was last revised on October 15, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 12, 2014, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 2,438 times since then and 158 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on July 18, 2020, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. 2. submitted on October 9, 2016, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.