The Freedom Rides were a series of bus trips taken by civil rights activists in the early 1960s to challenge segregation in the southern United States. Organized by groups like the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), these rides aimed to test the enforcement of the Supreme Court's decision in Boynton v. Virginia, which declared segregation in interstate bus travel illegal. Activists, both black and white, faced violent opposition and arrests during these rides, particularly in states like Alabama and Mississippi. The Freedom Rides played a crucial role in raising awareness about racial discrimination and contributed to the broader civil rights movement, leading to significant legislative changes.