What action did President Kennedy take in response to the Freedom Riders?

• A. He publicly condemned the riders
• B. He ignored the situation
• C. He sent federal protection for the riders
• D. He ordered the buses to shut down

Answer: (C)

The key idea is that the federal government stepped in to enforce civil rights when state authorities were unable or unwilling to protect constitutional rights. In response to violence against the Freedom Riders, President Kennedy deployed federal protection to ensure their safety and to enforce the desegregation orders that courts had already established for interstate travel. He had U.S. Marshals accompany the riders and provide protection as they continued their trip, signaling federal commitment to upholding those constitutional rights despite local resistance. This action directly tackled the danger the riders faced and helped the movement by showing that the federal government would back enforcement of desegregation rulings.