CDP hosts ‘Freedom Rider’ Charles Person

FEMA’s Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP) hosted a presentation Wednesday by Charles Person, the youngest member of the original ‘Freedom Riders.’

Freedom Riders were civil rights activists who, in 1961, took bus trips through the South to protest segregated bus terminals and busing. Images of the activists being viciously attacked by white supremacists, including those of a firebombed bus outside Anniston, Alabama, shocked the American public and eventually led the federal government to take steps banning segregation on interstate bus travel.

Person spoke to about 350 CDP students and staff, and several guests from surrounding communities, for 30 minutes, during which he said the Freedom Riders “… didn’t know we were going to be successful, but we had to try.

“We just wanted to prove we were normal people, trying to do normal things,” he said.

Person also said many of the lessons of the civil rights movement can be applied to the modern world, noting people of different backgrounds “… have the capacity to work together every day.”

“Make a friend. Be a friend,” he said.

After taking questions from the audience, Person was presented a Certificate of Appreciation and DHS coin in a commemorative display case from CDP Superintendent Tony Russell.

Editor’s note:  To view a video series of the CDP’s special Black History Month event, click on the following link: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLL9Peb5GtV2CS6ZKVF6X4m-eaMXdNMYXN.