How did the freedom riders stand up?

The Freedom Riders were a group of civil rights activists who rode interstate buses into the segregated southern United States in 1961 to challenge the Supreme Court's ruling in Boynton v. Virginia (1960), which had declared segregated public transportation to be unconstitutional. The Freedom Riders faced violence and arrests by local police and Ku Klux Klan (KKK) members. They also faced segregationist policies that prevented them from using bathrooms and restaurants. Despite the challenges they faced, the Freedom Riders continued to ride the buses and protest the segregation of public transportation. Their actions helped to bring national attention to the issue of civil rights and helped to spark the civil rights movement.

Here are some specific ways the Freedom Riders stood up:

* They refused to move to the back of the bus when asked by drivers or police officers.

* They sat in "whites only" sections of restaurants and other public places.

* They staged sit-ins at segregated bus terminals and other public facilities.

* They gave speeches and interviews about their experiences to raise awareness of the civil rights movement.

* They challenged segregation laws in court and won several important cases.

The Freedom Riders' actions helped to galvanize the civil rights movement and bring about significant changes in the United States. In 1964, the Civil Rights Act was passed, which outlawed segregation in public places and gave the federal government the power to enforce civil rights laws. The act was a major victory for civil rights activists and a testament to the power of nonviolent protest.