the goal of the Freedom Rides. They sent their members to continue the Freedom Rides and called out to other student groups to do the same. (10) As the violence grew, the Attorney General of the United States called in the National Guard and the U.S. Marshals to protect the Freedom Riders as they journeyed through Alabama. This protection was short lived. The Federal authorities turned the Freedom Riders over to the local authorities in Mississippi who then arrested the Freedom Riders for disturbing the peace. (11) The Government of Mississippi imprisoned many of the Freedom Riders in Parchman Prison known for its horrific conditions, such as subjecting the Freedom Riders to strip searches, work on chain gangs, and light shining in their cells 24 hours a day. Despite these conditions, the Freedom Riders refused bail because they were determined to spread the message of their nonviolent movement. (12) Five months after the first Freedom Riders left on their historic ride, the Interstate Commerce Commission in conjunction with the U.S. Attorney General Robert Kennedy issued a Federal order banning segregation at all interstate public facilities based upon race, color or creed . The law became effective on November 1, 1961. (13) In 2011, Barack Obama, the President of the United States paid tribute to the Freedom Riders with a Presidential proclamation honoring the 50th anniversary of the first Freedom Ride by brave Americans whose selfless act of courage helped pave the way for others to continue on the road to Civil Rights in America. 2. Congressional Gold Medal (a) Presentation authorization The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate shall make appropriate arrangements for the presentation, on behalf of the Congress, of a gold medal of appropriate design to the Freedom Riders, collectively, in recognition of their unique contribution to Civil Rights, which inspired a revolutionary movement to equality in interstate travel. (b) Design and striking For the purposes of