PBS NewsHour on 50th anniversary of Freedom Riders

[alp227]

Run time: 14:01 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SesczwdpGjg   Posted on YouTube: May 17, 2011 By YouTube Member: PBSNewsHour Views on YouTube: 34   Posted on DU: May 17, 2011 By DU Member: alp227 Views on DU: 750

 
Begins with preview of American Experience documentary "Freedom Riders" that's broadcast tonight and can be streamed online, with interviews with some of the original riders. Then at the 4:20 mark Judy Woodruff interviews Rep. John Lewis (D-GA) and University of Mary Washington student Charles Reed. Lewis participated in the original rides, and Reed is in the 2011 rendition.

[Rowdyboy]

1. It was beautifully done...should be mandatory for high school seniors...

Just so they'll have a clue

[FailureToCommunicate]

2. It was an excellent program -try and see it! Shows how Bobby and John

Kennedy AND Dr King were feet dragging, advising these college kids to not do this, to take it slow, to not 'set the movement back'

The apartheid in THIS country, the "white only" sections and signs shown will be an eye opener for younger people perhaps...

The hesitancy of the 'leaders' to act, while the freedom riders are getting attacked and the buses burned, is hard to believe in this day and age.

And the blatant cooperation or enablement of local law enforcement with known plans of the KKK to attack the kids is shocking...

The courage of the students to keep going -nonviolently- is very inspiring...

Powerful history

[HelenWheels]

3. A woman put the rides together

Sorry, I don't remember her name but she stood up to the Kennedys who wanted her to call off the rides. She held fast and kept it going. And she was a young woman, in her twenties. What a courageous woman she was.