Reps. Nancy Mace and Hank Johnson Seek Congressional Gold Medal for Freedom Riders

Congresswoman Nancy Mace and Congressman Hank Johnson on Tuesday introduced a bipartisan resolution to award the Freedom Riders the Congressional Gold Medal for their courageous fight against Jim Crow laws in the South. 

The Freedom Riders of 1961 were a critical moment in the civil rights movement, with over 400 individuals risking their lives to challenge racial segregation on public transportation.

“We owe it to the legacy of the Freedom Riders to ensure their contributions to the civil rights movement are not forgotten,” said Rep. Mace. “The Congressional Gold Medal is a powerful way to do just that.”

More than 55 members of Congress have joined as original cosponsors of the resolution. If approved, the Freedom Riders will receive the medal as a group and it will be displayed at the Smithsonian Museum.

“In our modern movement for equality and racial justice, recognizing the sacrifices and bravery of our forebearers helps us understand our past and envision a more equitable, bright and just future for all,” said Rep. Johnson. “I’m honored Congresswoman Mace is joining me in this effort to recognize these heroes who risked their lives to make America better.”

The Freedom Riders, including Genevieve Hughes Houghton, Charles Person, Hank Thomas, John Lewis, Edward Blankenheim, James Farmer, Walter Bergman, Frances Bergman, Joseph Perkins, Jimmy McDonald, Mae Francis Moultrie, Benjamin Elton Cox, and Albert Bigelow, endured vicious attacks and imprisonment as they traveled together on buses and trains through the South. Their nonviolent activism challenged bitter racism and mob violence.

The push to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Freedom Riders comes as Black History Month draws to a close. This measure would serve as a public testament to the courage and determination of these civil rights activists and their legacy in the fight for a more just and fair society.

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