AMERICAN CIVIL RIGHTS TOOK A LARGE STEP FORWARD 50 YEARS AGO TODAY.....THANKS TO THE COURAGE OF AMERICAN CITIZENS...........

Just one hundred and four days into the Administration of President of the United States John Fitzgerald Kennedy, our 35th President; one hundred years and three weeks following the start of the American Civil War Between the States; and thirty three days into the Easter Season of 1961, the Civil Rights Movement in the United States took na large leap forward, on this date of May 4th.  For it was on that date, 50 years ago today that civil rights activists, seeking equality, justice, and abolition of discrimination and prejudice, against racial minorities, started an integration protest, known as, "The Freedom Riders".  They rode buses into the southern Statesm where segregation, and discrimination against Negroes was rampant; seeking integration between the races in transportation and equal rights as citizens of the United States of America, guaranteed to them, inherent in their civil rights, as human beings and citizens of this country.  The Freedom Riders faced a concerted opposition of angry and even violent protesters, which caused a melee, leading the Kennedy Justice Department, to send representatives down to the ensuing protests and into the beatings and bloodshed that was occuring, as the Freedom continued their demonstrations.  The American Civil Rights Movement that had grown more fierce and focused in the 1950's, crescendoed with the Freedom Riders, going full stream into the 1960's, with marches, demonstrations, and increasing support from the general citizenry and the churches.  So  we remember and salute the perosons who were bold and courageous enough, a half century ago, whose rides for freedom, equality, and justice, for all - furthered the cause of Civil Rights, in the Southern States and throughout the country, that just three and four years later, resulted in the Civil Rights Act of 1964; and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.  Commendations, "Freedom Riders", for your consciously costly contribution to moving us as a nation forward, by keeping Your, "Eyes On The Prize". !!!!!!!!!!!...........Fr.  Troy