This month marks 60 years since the original 13 Freedom Riders--among them, a 21-year-old John Lewis--set out on two buses from Washington, D.C. to challenge the segregation of public transportation. In the weeks following their May 4, 1961 departure, the Freedom Riders were threatened, arrested, and attacked by violent mobs throughout the Deep South. They attracted the attention of the nation and the world, inspiring hundreds more riders from across the country to join their movement and in Mississippi that summer. To mark this anniversary, the Obama Foundation spoke with veterans of the Freedom Rides. In this clip, hear from Catherine Burks-Brooks.

Catherine Burks-Brooks on her experience during the Freedom Rides

Obama Foundation