Argumentative Essay: Irene Morgan

Ruth R Williams
Joseph Bennett
English 101-047
6 December 2010
Unconstitutional (Weignroff)
On July 16, 1944, a young Irene Morgan was riding a Greyhound bus in Gloucester County bound for Baltimore via Washington, D.C. Taking a seat in the back of the bus as required by local and State Jim Crow laws, Irene was able to ride seated until some white passengers joined the group on the bus and needed a seat. Irene was told to give her seat up and she refused. Subsequently because of her refusal Irene was arrested, tried and convicted of violating a state law. A ten dollar fine was imposed and refused to be paid. Deciding that the punishment was not fair she appealed to the state appellate court. Unfortunately the state appellate court upheld…show more content…
Upon reaching Anniston, Alabama, one of the buses was burned and the other was attacked by several dozens of white angry mobs. Brutally beating them and setting the buses on fire. What’s so troubling is that the bus in Birmingham was only a few blocks away from the police station when they were attacked by an anger mob of white protesters. Freedom riders were attacked with iron pipes and other weapons, knocked unconscious, beat and hospitalized. Public officers were aware of the freedom riders coming and the mob of whites waiting to attack and still did nothing to stop the violence. Help did come from the U.S. Justice Department to assure that some of the riders left Birmingham, Alabama to go to New Orleans. Even with all the violence this did not stop riders from moving forward with another…show more content…
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Weignroff, Richard F. "The Road to Civil Rights." 04 November 2010. U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration, Highway History. 1 December 2010 <http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/highwayhistory/road/s25.cfm>.
Wynn, Jessie Carney Smith and Linda T. Freedom Facts and Firsts. Detriot: Visible Ink Press,