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(Washington, DC)  —  DC Mayor Vincent Gray honored three freedom riders yesterday for their efforts to protest segregation 50-years ago.  More than 400 civil rights activists boarded buses in Washington, DC in 1961 to challenge segregation policies as they traveled through the south.  Abdul Aziz, Dion Diamond and Joan Mulholland were among those imprisoned in the effort.  Aziz and Mulholland spoke with WJLA-TV.

The freedom ride, sit-ins and marches eventually led to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.  This Sunday, the freedom riders will again board a bus to retrace their journey with dozens of area college students.  The ride ends May 16th in New Orleans.

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