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Primary Source Set
The Tallahassee Ten
In June 1961, Interfaith Freedom Riders challenged segregated interstate buses by traveling from Washington, D.C. to Tallahassee, Florida. After successfully completing the Freedom Ride they planned to fly home but first decided to test whether or not the group would be served in the segregated airport restaurant. After being denied service, 10 Freedom Riders, later known as the Tallahassee Ten, were arrested for unlawful assembly.
Later that month they were sentenced to pay a $500 fine or serve 60 days in jail. They were released on bond and spent three years appealing the charges. Nine original riders returned to Tallahassee to serve their jail sentence in August 1964 (one paid the fine), but they were released after four days.
Photo credit: Rabbi Israel Dresner reads a message of support after being jailed in Tallahassee, 1964.
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