7/2/14 Civil Rights Act of 1974 50th Anniversary: The Civil Rights Ride Send-Off Ceremony

 Original Freedom Riders John Moody, Charles Person and Reverend Reginald Green sign posters at the LBJ Department of Education Building before the ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act July 2, 2014.  

 Original Freedom Rider John Moody signs posters at the LBJ Department of Education Building before the ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act July 2, 2014.  

 Freedom Rider Reverend Reginald Green speaks to the press before the Department of Education ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act July 2, 2014.  /Photo by Nancy Shia

 Freedom Rider Hank Thomas answers questions from the press before delivering the keynote speech at the Civil Rights Act of 1964 50^th Anniversary:  The Civil Rights Ride Send off Ceremony at the Department of Education July 2, 2014.  /Photo by Nancy Shia

 Freedom Rider Charles Pearson speaks to the press before the Department of Education ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act July 2, 2014.  /Photo by Nancy Shia

 Freedom Rider John Moody speaks to the press before the Department of Education ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act July 2, 2014.  /Photo by Nancy Shia

 Freedom Rider John Moody walks into the Department of Education Auditorium to take his seat in the front row with fellow Freedom Riders to begin the ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act July 2, 2014.

 Rev. Brenda Girton-Mitchell, Director of Faith-Based Initiatives and Neighorhood Partnerships at the Department of Education, offers a few remarks at the celebration commemorating the 50^th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act on June 2, 2014.  /Photo by Nancy Shia 

 Original Freedom Rider Hank Thomas is the keynote speaker at a Department of Education ceremony commemorating the 50^th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act July 2, 2014.  /Photo by Nancy Shia  

Alfred Dudley III, NAACP Act-So winner, describes his ink drawing Black Rushmore at a Department of Education ceremony commemorating the 50^th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act July 2, 2014.  /Photo by Nancy Shia 

Blossom Ojukwu, NAACP Act-So winner, sings We Shall Overcome at a  Department of Education ceremony commemorating the 50^th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act July 2, 2014.  /Photo by Nancy Shia 

Original Freedom Riders (left to right) Dion Diamond Reverend Reginald Green, John Moody, Joan Trumpauer Mulholland, Charles Person and Hank Thomas sit in the front row at the Department of Education ceremony commemorating the 50^th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act July 2, 2014.  /Photo by Nancy Shia 

Freedom Rider Charles Person boards a bus outside the Department of Education headed to Richmond Virginia to commemorate the 50^th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act July 2, 2014.  /Photo by Nancy Shia

 

Original Freedom Rider John Moody of Washington DC is ready to get on the bus to Richmond Virginia to commemorate the 50^th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act July 2, 2014.  /Photo by Nancy Shia 

A group called No Chains sings the Freedom Riders off on the bus to Richmond to commemorate the 50^th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act July 2, 2014.  /Photo by Nancy Shia 

Freedom Rider Charles Person is on the bus to Richmond Virginia to commemorate the 50^th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act July 2, 2014.  /Photo by Nancy Shia