May 15, 2014

‘Freedom Riders’ recall efforts, resistance

Ellen Ziskind and Paul Breines, members of the “Freedom Riders” of 1961, shared anecdotes and their perspectives on race relations during the College’s annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Lecture. Their appearance was sponsored by more than 30 campus partners and drew a capacity audience in the Ruane Center for the Humanities.

The Freedom Riders were civil rights activists who rode interstate buses in the Deep South to protest the lack of enforcement of U.S. Supreme Court rulings that outlawed segregation in interstate travel, particularly buses, and in public places. Their advocacy sparked acts of hatred and violence, and in most cases — like Ziskind’s and Breines’ — Freedom Riders were jailed for being inciteful.

Ziskind and Breines conveyed why they chose to get involved in the Freedom Rides and recalled specific experiences on their trips. Ziskind expressed skepticism “that racism can ever end.” Breines said relationships between whites and blacks today remain at a “faltering” pace. 

For more: prov.ly/freedomriders2014

Freedom Riders Ellen Ziskind and Paul Breines