May 27, 2026
On May 26, Cohen Milstein was proud to co-sponsor a special event marking the 65th anniversary of the Freedom Rides, a defining moment in the struggle for civil rights in the United States.
The commemoration took place at 1100 New York Avenue, NW—the very site where, on May 4, 1961, a small group of determined Americans began a journey that would challenge segregation, test the rule of law, and help reshape the nation. This building has also been home to our Washington, D.C. office since 1994, making the opportunity to reflect on the history here especially meaningful.
Joseph Sellers, founder and co-chair of Cohen Milstein’s Civil Rights & Employment practice, was invited to give remarks alongside Kristen Clarke, General Counsel of the NAACP and former head of the DOJ Civil Rights Division; Cortland Cox, chair of the SNCC Legacy Project Board of Directors; and members of the Art Deco Society of Washington and DC Historic Preservation Office.
As Joseph Sellers noted during the program, “Every day that we walk through this space we are reminded of the bravery of those who began their journey from here against overwhelming odds.”
More than six decades later, that moment continues to resonate.
A Journey That Tested the Law and the Nation
The Freedom Rides were not simply symbolic. They were a direct and deliberate test of whether the United States would enforce its own laws.
In Boynton v. Virginia (1960, the U.S. Supreme Court made clear that segregation in interstate bus travel was unlawful. Yet in practice, many Southern states continued to ignore the law.
The Freedom Riders set out to confront that gap.
On May 4, 1961, thirteen Black and white volunteers, ranging in age from 18 to 61, departed Washington, D.C. on two buses—one from the Greyhound terminal at this site, and another from a Trailways station nearby. Organized by the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), their two-week journey took them through Virginia, the Carolinas, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana.
Their strategy was intentional and disciplined:
- Interracial riders sat together in defiance of segregation norms
- Black riders occupied seats reserved by custom for white passengers
- Some participants documented violations and coordinated a legal response
Their objective was clear: to force the federal government to enforce the law.
As Sellers observed, the riders were engaged in testing to detect and expose violations of civil rights laws—a critical form of enforcement that remains a cornerstone of modern civil rights practice. “Our civil rights laws do not enforce themselves,” he stated. “Their grand promise is only as effective as our ability to ensure violations can be detected and challenged.”
Courage in the Face of Violence
The riders’ journey began quietly in Washington, but conditions changed quickly.
As they moved South, they encountered escalating hostility. In South Carolina, future Congressman John Lewis was attacked. In Alabama, the violence drew national and international attention. In Anniston, a Greyhound bus was firebombed. In Birmingham, riders were beaten by mobs in coordinated attacks.
These acts of violence exposed the extent to which segregation persisted despite federal law. Just as importantly, they created pressure for action.
The riders’ courage helped compel the federal government to enforce desegregation in interstate travel. What began as a test of legal precedent became a turning point in the Civil Rights Movement.
The Place Where It Began
The impact of the Freedom Rides is inseparable from the place where the journey began.
The Greyhound Bus Terminal at 1100 New York Avenue opened in 1940 as a striking example of Streamline Moderne architecture. It once reflected the optimism of mid-century travel, serving passengers during World War II and the decades that followed.
But by the 1970s, the terminal had entered a period of decline. As bus travel lost prominence, the station reflected broader urban challenges—aging infrastructure and growing safety concerns. Renovations in 1976 attempted to modernize the space but obscured much of the building’s original architectural character. By the early 1980s, the terminal had reached the end of its functional life, and operations were relocated. Its future was uncertain.
Preservation and a Continuing Legacy
What might have been lost was ultimately preserved.
In 1987, the D.C. Historic Preservation Review Board took the unusual step of designating the terminal a historic landmark even though its defining features were hidden beneath later alterations. The decision helped establish a broader understanding of how historic significance can endure beyond visible condition.
When the current office tower was constructed in 1991, the terminal was incorporated into its design rather than demolished. Its restored structure became part of the new development, ensuring that the space where history unfolded remained part of the present. And that legacy continues to evolve.
In November 2025, the building’s historic interior spaces, including the waiting room and lobby, were formally designated as landmarks, further recognizing the site’s architectural significance and its place in civil rights history.
A Shared Moment of Reflection
The May 26 commemoration brought together leaders from the legal, civil rights, and preservation communities to reflect on this shared history. Remarks from distinguished speakers honored both the legal foundations and the individual courage that defined the Freedom Rides.
Holding the event at the very site where the journey began underscored a powerful connection between past and present.
Why the Freedom Rides Still Matter
The Freedom Rides transformed a legal principle into lived reality. They demonstrated that court decisions alone are not enough—that enforcement, accountability, and persistence are essential to meaningful progress.
They remind us that legal rights must be defended to have effect, that progress often requires individuals willing to challenge the status quo, and courage and advocacy can reshape institutions.
Reflecting on the Freedom Rides in the place where they began offers a unique perspective on the ongoing work of civil rights. This building has witnessed transformation, from a transportation hub to a site of protest and courage, to a preserved landmark embedded within the modern city. Its history mirrors a broader story of change.
The commemoration also served as a reminder of a deeper principle. As Sellers concluded, “The enactment of laws is not enough. Justice requires people who are willing to challenge unlawful conduct, to speak out against bigotry and insist that constitutional rights apply to everyone. The Freedom Riders proved that ordinary people can create extraordinary change.”
The commemoration serves as a reminder that progress is built over time through law, through action, and through individuals willing to move both forward.
For Cohen Milstein, that legacy is not just historical, it is ongoing. The same principles that drove the Freedom Riders guide our civil rights practice today: advocating for fair pay, equal access, and accountability where unlawful bias persists. Their example remains a powerful reminder of what it means to stand up for fairness—and to ensure the law works as it is intended for everyone.