Congressional Gold Medal for Freedom Riders: Recognizing Bravery That Changed Interstate Travel Forever

This bill officially awards a Congressional Gold Medal to the Freedom Riders, collectively, recognizing their pivotal role in the Civil Rights movement. It's a formal acknowledgment of their courage in challenging segregation on interstate buses and in bus terminals in the 1960s, directly leading to the end of those discriminatory practices.

Riding for Justice

The core of this bill is simple: honor the Freedom Riders. Back in 1961, these folks boarded buses headed for the Deep South, deliberately sitting in mixed racial groups to challenge Jim Crow laws. The bill specifically names the original thirteen riders from May 4, 1961 (Section 1), including Genevieve Hughes Houghton, Charles Person, John Lewis, and others. They faced violence—beatings, firebombings (Anniston, Alabama, May 14, 1961), and jail time—but their actions, and those of the many who joined them, directly pushed the Interstate Commerce Commission and Attorney General Robert Kennedy to ban segregation in all interstate public facilities by November 1, 1961 (Section 1).

Medal of Honor, and More

The bill authorizes the creation of a Congressional Gold Medal (Section 2) to be displayed at the Smithsonian Institution, alongside making it available for research. This isn't just about a medal; it's about keeping their story alive and accessible. The Smithsonian is directed to display the medal and make it available for research, ensuring that the Freedom Riders' legacy is preserved and accessible for future generations (Section 2). Congress also wants the medal displayed at other locations relevant to the Freedom Riders' story.

Making History Accessible (and Affordable)

Beyond the gold medal, the bill allows the creation and sale of bronze duplicates (Section 3). This means anyone interested can purchase a replica, with proceeds going back into the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund (Section 5). It's a way to make a piece of this history accessible to more people while covering production costs. The medals are designated as both national medals and numismatic items, clarifying their status for collectors and institutions (Section 4). The bill ensures that the funds from selling these bronze replicas directly support the cost of making them, creating a self-sustaining way to honor this history (Section 5).