When we think of the Civil Rights Movement, we often think of the bravery and eloquence of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  While Dr. King certainly did not have an easy task at hand when he took on the racism and segregation of the South, he did not do it alone.  Thousands of Americans, from both the North and the South, persevered through life-threatening mobs day in and day out for months to ensure that future generations could experience the dream Dr. King gave us all.

PBS is honoring many of these brave men and women in their special “The Freedom Riders”.  This group of 400 black and white Americans journeyed on buses and trains together through some of the most segregated parts of the South.  They directly defied unjust Jim Crow laws, often enduring beatings and imprisonment.  Through these simple acts of non-violent civil disobedience, they were able to catch the attention of President Kennedy, Congress, and an entire nation.

Watch “The Freedom Riders” May 16th to learn more about how this small group affected so much change in such a short period of time.  PBS has also set up a trip of all the major stops taken by the Freedom Riders.  Check in, take photos, and help other Gowalla users remember these important moments in American history.