11/30/2023 0 Comments Freedom ridersReluctantly, President Kennedy moves towards committing federal troops, but Governor Patterson sends in the Alabama National Guard to separate the mob. The mob begins to throw rocks causing the church windows to shatter, tear gas seeps through the windows, children are sent to the basement of the church while Black men draw hidden pistols and prepare to defend their families. Inside the church, the blacks sing hymns trying to become more powerful then the mob through song. The mob turns over a car and sets it on fire, the marshals try and protect the church from assault and fire bombs. Outside the church, a mob of more than 3,000 whites harass and taunt the blacks and the Federal marshals that were protecting the church. On the 21st of May, more than 1,200 black citizens gather in the Reverend Abernathy's 1st Baptist church to honor the Freedom Riders having Dr.King speak in their support. One of the riders, William Barbee, tells reporters (from his hospital bed) "As soon as we've recovered from this, we'll start again." Another rider, Zwerg says, "We are prepared to die." Jude's hospital treated the wounded riders no matter what color they were. The freedom riders were later blamed for the violence that occurred that day. One of the riders, John Lewis, was struck by a wooden crate to the head. Reporters are beaten and their cameras are smashed, this is why there are no pictures of the attack in Montgomery. When the Freedom Riders begin to step off the bus, hundreds of Klansman swarm the Riders and scream "Get the niggers!" The Klansman attack with baseball bats, broken bottles and lead pipes. But when the bus reaches Montgomery, the highway patrol disappears. Afraid of Klan ambush, the bus heads south towards Montgomery at 90 miles an hour, escorted by Alabama highway patrol cars.
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