Freedom and rides

WHat was it and who led it

• 1965, activist Charlie Perkins led a group of university students on a bus tour around regional NSW.

• The Student Body: Around 30 non-Indigenous and Indigenous students (including activists like Gary Williams and Ann Curthoys) joined together, inspired by the 1961 US Civil Rights Freedom Rides

• aim was expose segregation and poor living conditions , document, and challenge the severe racial segregation, and poor living conditions faced by Aboriginal Australians in rural towns

Insipration for the movement

• Integrated groups of civil rights activists rode through the segregated ( isoaltion) American South to challenge and enforce Supreme Court rulings banning segregation on public transport.

• The rides and the hostility they provoked drew worldwide attention, including at the University of Sydney, where students were inspired to take action.

student action for aboriginal ( SAFA)

• Formed in 1964 by university students who wanted to act in support of First Nations civil rights.

• After some smaller protests and demonstrations, SAFA decided to hire a bus with activist in it and travel through regional NSW to highlight segregation and racism there.

 

SAFA three aims

1. To arouse public attention to the fundamental Aboriginal problems in health, education, housing and similar areas.

2. To break down social discriminatory barriers as far as possible through student action.

3. To stimulate the interest of Aboriginal people themselves in resisting discriminatory action.

when did the freedom rides start

Freedom ride began on 12 febeuaey 1965 , with a bus carrying 35 students departed from sydney . ( charles perkins , the ride leader . And  gary willians , a gumbaynggir student , both are first nations )

Sources

 Ann Curthoys, who recorded the events of the ride, is an important primary source.

walgett ( The first major confrontation

• First Nations residents& members of armed forces, were banned from the local RSL (Returned & Services League of Australia), and the RSL refused to serve watered-down alcohol at greatly inflated prices through a window.

• The riders set up outside the RSL and held banners highlighting the racism.

• Their signs included messages such as “Good enough for Tobruk – why not Walgett RSL?” and “Bullets did not discriminate”.

• In the afternoon, a large group of local men gathered and began to argue with the protesters.

leaving walgett

• The hostility escalated as the riders left.

• They were followed by a convoy of cars, and a truck driven by an angry local collided with the bus and forced it off the road.

• The riders armed themselves with anything they had to hand and prepared to be attacked.

• The expected violence did not occur, but the riders were shaken and returned to Walgett to regroup.

Moree

• The local pool was closed to First Nations residents.

• The freedom riders campaigned until the pool manager allowed six First Nations children entry.

• Charles Perkins then went to the local Aboriginal community and returned with 21 other children keen for a swim

 

• After 15 days on the road, the ride ended on 26 February.

• The footage from the ride of the segregation and racism faced by First Nations people, and the violence and hostility towards SAFA, changed.