Final answer:
The Freedom Riders protest aimed to challenge segregation on interstate transportation and faced violent opposition. Their actions had a significant impact on desegregation efforts and highlighted the power of nonviolent direct action.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Freedom Riders protest in the 1960s was a significant event in the Civil Rights Movement. Here are three characteristics of the Freedom Riders protest:
- Testing segregation on interstate transportation: The Freedom Riders aimed to challenge and test the enforcement of a U.S. Supreme Court decision that prohibited segregation on interstate transportation. They rode buses and trains through the South, breaking the Jim Crow seating order of whites in the back and African-Americans in the front, or even having riders of different races share the same bench seat.
- Encountering violence and hostility: The Freedom Riders faced violent opposition from white mobs and extremist groups. They were attacked in places like Rock Hill, South Carolina, Alabama, and Mississippi. Some Freedom Riders were severely beaten, and their buses were firebombed. The violence they experienced garnered national attention and forced many to question the morality of segregation.
- Significance and impact: The Freedom Rides brought attention to the issue of racial segregation and sparked public outrage. Their actions contributed to the desegregation of transportation and facilities like waiting rooms in southern terminals. The protests also highlighted the power of nonviolent direct action as a strategy for civil rights activism.