The story of the Freedom Rides offers a dramatic lesson in the revolutionary power of civic participation. The daring actions of a small diverse group of young adults emboldened a mass movement that ultimately transformed the very fabric of this country. We believe this powerful example of a successful organizing effort will inspire young people, and their adult allies, that are affected by, and mobilizing around contemporary issues such as disproportionate sentencing, immigrant rights, youth violence and environmental justice.
YPP joins Firelight Media's national community engagement campaign in Chicago and Jackson, MS, by facilitating upcoming community-based dicussions highliting the work of the Freedom Riders, and lessons from the Rides, drawing parallels between the struggles of the 1960s and today, with the goal of initiating youth-led action surounding the identified current social justice struggles.
