John Lewis historical marker and the Freedom Riders

Now that you know more about the Greyhound and Trailways bus stations, let us tell you about the Freedom Riders. The Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) planned the Freedom Rides in 1961 as a way to test the 1960 Boynton v. Virginia Supreme Court decision which strengthened the earlier ICC Keys ruling against discrimination in interstate travel, specifically waiting rooms, restrooms, and lunch counters. Local student activist John Lewis was one of 18 Freedom Riders chosen by CORE leaders. On May 4, the Freedom Riders departed Washington, D.C., with plans to reach New Orleans in 2 weeks. Lewis left the group on May 10 to do an interview in Philadelphia, with plans to reunite in Birmingham. On Sunday, May 14—Mother’s Day—the Freedom Riders’ Greyhound bus arrived in Anniston, AL (about an hour east of Birmingham). It was there that the bus was attacked by white mobs. The Freedom Riders were evacuated via convoy led by the Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth of Birmingham.

When the news reached Nashville, Lewis and fellow student leader Diane Nash organized a group of reinforcement Freedom Riders to complete the journey. Many leaders, usually older, feared for the students’ lives. Even President John F. Kennedy was worried. Attorney General Robert Kennedy conveyed his concern to local journalist John Seigenthaler who relayed the administration’s message. Diane Nash listened calmly to Seigenthaler and then replied, “Do you understand, we all signed our wills last night, we know somebody will die, but we are not going to let nonviolence be overcome by violence.”

Despite these concerns, Nashville’s Black leaders wrote a check to cover the costs of bus tickets and food. However, they issued a check that required two specific signatures to cash—one from a man who worked out of town. Well, these college students refused to be outsmarted; they cashed the check by going to the local “numbers man,” or bookie who cashed the check! On May 17, John Lewis, Jim Zwerg, Salynn McCollum, William Barbee, Paul Brooks, Charles Butler, Allen Cason, Bill Harbour, Catherine Burks, and Lucretia Collins left Nashville on a Greyhound bus bound for Birmingham. Joined by other Freedom Riders, they continued to Jackson, MS where they were arrested. After his release on July 7, Lewis returned to Nashville where he began classes at Fisk University and remained active in the Nashville Student Movement.

Make your way back to your vehicle then drive to your last (optional) stop. From Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., turn RIGHT onto Tenth Circle North then enter the parking lot on your right. This is the current home of First Baptist Church, Capitol Hill. Its original location was just a few blocks east. Find a parking spot and walk up to the Black Churches of Capitol Hill historical marker as you listen to your final stop.