This is one of the Best if not the BEST Civil Rights/Freedom Movement sources on the web!! It's detailed, and put together in an easy to follow format.

I gotta thank those who put in the work, then put in the time to create document that tells the real story of one of the most significant times of Human history.

Kevin Easterling - Executive Director
Martin Luther & Coretta Scott King Memorial Project
of the Lehigh Valley Inc.
Mail: PO Box 4385 Allentown PA 18105
Office: The Max Hess Building
1244 W. Hamilton Street Suite 105
Allentown PA 18102
Office phone: 484-661-1161
Cell: 484-294-3683
FB: http://www.facebook.com/MLKmemorialLehighValley
Email: info@mlkmemorialproject.org
Web: www.mlkmemorialproject.org

Kevin Easterling, Allentown PA, December 5, 2011

Thank you very much for this really comprehensive and informative insight in the American Freedom Movement. This website gives very detailled information about the single events and cotexts during this movement. Firstly, I came here to find information for a presentation I have to give in university. But the stories honestly caught me.

In my opinion, it's really important to keep informing people in detail, especially when it comes to those important events/movements in history (for I would argue that inequality is still a contemporary and important issue everywhere on the world) and it makes me quite sad when I think of how little people know about the Freedom Movement, and how little I knew too before I found this website.

We learn in school that Martin Luther King Jr. delivered an important speech, "I have a dream", sometime during the 60s, and I admit it's an important, eloquent and impressive speech, but for what does this knowledge serve you if you don't know the historical background?! I really appreciate the efforts and work everybody creating this website put into it.

Sandrine, Germany, October 29, 2011

We lost another giant yesterday. Every child should be taught of Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth. He deserves America's respect and thanks for his service to this country.

Joel Horowitz, Cherry Hill, NJ, October 6, 2011

[See In Memory: Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth for more comments and tributes.

ON AUGUST 27, 2011, THE WORLD LOST ONE OF IT'S LOUDEST DEFENDERS OF CIVIL RIGHTS, WILLIAM "STETSON" KENNEDY. IT OFTEN ANGERED ME THAT A WHOLE GENERATION SEEMED TO NOT BE AWARE OF THE DEEDS HE ACCOMPLISHED FOR ALL OF US, NOT JUST THOSE OF COLOR. STUDS TERKEL ONCE TOLD ME," STETSON WAS DEFENDING OUR FIRST AMMENDENT RIGHTS IN A TIME WHEN REASON WAS CONSIDERED TREASON." I'VE NEVER HAD ANYONE DESCRIBE STETSON ANY BETTER! STETSON WAS MY "FISHING BUDDY", MY FRIEND, MY LIFE REVOLVED AROUND HIM.......I FINALLY DECIDED THAT MY MEMORY OF THE MANY DAYS I HAD WITH STETSON, WOULD INVOKE A BURST OF PRIDE FROM MY HEART, NOT SORROW.

Jill Bowen, Jacksonville, FL, September 14, 2011

Have a question for all of you: What do you think about racial discrimination in a work place? I am waiting for your feedbacks.

Ricardo Auguste, Pembroke Pines, Florida, August 9, 2011

Saw the documentary on the Freedom Riders on PBS last night first time. Had vaguely recalled hearing the phrase at some point in the past, but definitely had not learned this lesson in history class. I watched the program riveted and sick to my stomach. The bravery of the people who participated is amazing, yet in hearing them describe why they did it, just seemed like the only thing to do. The hatred they encountered along the way is too awful to comprehend, the fact that it was condoned by authorities even more astounding. As my husband pointed out as we watched, all of this took place only 10 years before we born. I am a white woman married to an african american man, and owe such a debt of gratitude to all of the people who had the courage to be involved in the civil rights movements. While we still experience hints of racism here and there, it is nothing compared to what you all went through. Without those of you who came before, my beautiful family (3 wonderful children) would not be possible. And for that I will be forever grateful.

Jennifer Lima, North Kingstown, Rhode Island, June 03, 2011

congratulaitions on getting your story really out there on PBS tonight, too many do not know enough about the special wonderful courageous amazing people the freedom riders were; I wish I'd been old enough to have been with you; I wish I was employed by one of you special people who are to be admired, so I could feel I was waking up each day doing something of worth

Beatrice, Sta Monica Ca, May 16, 2011

Thank you to all of the Freedom Riders, and happy anniversary. While I am not American, please know that your lesson in peaceful social protest, and in social justice did not just teach your fellow Americans. I have always looked to your example, and still do. Your sacrifice and dedication did, indeed, change the world.

May God bless all of you, and thank you again.

Georgann Gerow MacDonald, Nova Scotia, Canada, May 4, 2011

I am reading the book Coming of Age In Mississippi by Anne Moody I find this an amazing read to the point where I feel like I am with her while she goes through all of protesting and racism. I wanted to see through picures what It was like and this website very much so helped with that. It gives me goosbumps to look at those pictures.

Corrie Johannesson, Duluth Minnesota, April 28, 2011

If I can I will make part of the conference; however, I want to add a note about the volunteer "checkers" along the FreedomRiders. Some of us in Chicago had the assignment to monitor the buses that came from Wisconsin on their way south. We worked out of the basement of Liberty Baptist Church, and alerted a central office when the buses went through Chicago on their way south. We were part of CORE in Chicago. A little known spot on the way to the south.

Many other adventures in the Civil Rights movement: Emergency Relief Committee for Fayette County Tennessee, Marquette Park, etc., all recorded, but probably not this little band of volunteers in the basement of Liberty Baptist.

Phone no. 773-363-4368.

Sue Purrington, Chicago, Illinois, April 26, 2011

I am still so deeply moved by Martin's "I Have a Dream" speech. I remember hearing it in 1963 and since I was only 11, I did not understand the fullness nor the context. I grew up in St. Louis, Missouri. Things were not right for African Americans in those days.

Today, I read the full speech of Martin Luther King and it gives me chills and opens my heart. I can hear his cadence and feel the heat of that day. My emotions rise as the tears of joy rise in my eyes.

Today we face different challenges and conservation is one of them. Equal education is another. But now the battle shifts to the inside where character becomes the important factor. Truly, an amazing era to have lived through and a joyful realization to see some wonderful blossoms.

Timothy Barksdale, Choteau, MT & Prairie Village, KS, January 26, 2011

First, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to BOB MOSES (whose birthday is actually tomorrow, Jan.23rd.

I remember the civil rights era — I was born in 1952, and was a young high school freshman when the Freedom Riders went south to work on the voters registration. I was aware of it enough to write a fiction story for my 9th grade English class. The white teacher — a perceived racist, gave me a "C" for what was clearly B or A work.

I Thank God for all of you who bravely went into dangerous territory, putting your lives on the line. GOD BLESS!

Linda Hutcherson, Detroit, MI, January 23, 2011

I smile as I look at the faces of all the people who worked hard (unimaginably hard) and believed in the hard work that is the Civil Rights Movement. Yes, these some of these images are horrific but these are the true Americans. My respect for all you men and women and what you accomplished, it is nearly immeasurable this equality. All of this took place before I was born and yet within my "generation" the effects ripple. I remember today what it really means when we celebrate MLK. I send out a pray and a thank you to all of these beautiful faces from Freedom Summer and the lost boys, to Selma, Montgomery and eventually Washington DC. The children and the old, black and white those who stood up for equality, Thank you!

Tiffany, Portland, OR & Nashville, TN, January 18, 2011

Just want you all a happy 2011 thanks GOD Bless

Bill Cleveland Jr, North Adams, Massachusetts, January 18, 2011

Thank you so much, activists for your bravery and sacrifice. I grew up in Mississippi in the 1960's, but I realized so little of the terrible events taking place in my state. Thankfully a wonderful college professor opened my eyes to the heartbreak in Mississippi in this era. I pray that you and your courage and your part in this great movement of human liberty will never be forgotten. I pledge to do my part to educate my children and grandchildren about the truth of our nation's history. I continue to hope and work for Mississippi to become a more progressive state. Thank you

Gayle Newby, Ripley, Mississippi, January 15, 2011

Dear Civil Rights Activists, first of all congratulations for your website, it is very interesting and usefull for me because I'm doing my graduation thesis on the Civil Rights Movement and the influence of it on Obama's politics.

I would like to ask some qustions which will be very important for my work...

Do you think that the CRM influences on Obama's politics?
Do you think that Obama rapresents a goal or a point of departure?
Is Obama MLK's dream?
What do you think about the racial question in US today?

You can also answer me at my email valespa87@virgilio.it

Thank you!

Respectfully, Valentina, Italy, January 4, 2011

This is in answer to the query of what was the first sit-in. CORE staged sit-ins at restaurants in Chicago in 1942. In 1949-53 CORE's St. Louis chapter had sit-ins (successful) to integrate "dime store" eating facilities. Also in 1949 CORE's DC chapter staged "stand-ins" at a movie theater. At Palisades Park, NJ, a two-year stand-in campaign accompanied by violence was successful. In State College, PA, CORE secured integrated barbershops. In 1959 CORE had sit-ins in Miami, FL without success. Also, in 1947, the Fellowship of Reconciliation carried out a Freedom Ride in the Upper South to test an early court decision on interstate travel. On Aug. 19, 1958 the NAACP Youth Council in Oklahoma City began the first formal sit-in by predominantly Black students. Barbara Ann Posey was spokesperson and this event became the source of the NAACP's claim to be the originator of the sit-in idea. There were numerous other sit-ins that year in Kansas and Oklahoma. I was not aware of the FAMU sit-ins. For more info see my The Sit-In Movement of 1960, Carlson, 1989.

Martin Oppenheimer, Princeton, NJ, Jan. 3, 2011