Original Freedom Riders, their families, faith leaders and artists travel 19 cities in 12 days, with a feature documentary filmed along the way
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Ride 2026, a 12-day national bus tour and feature documentary, departed Washington, D.C. on October 17 to retrace the route of the 1961 Freedom Rides through the Deep South. The journey ends October 28 in New Orleans, the city the original Freedom Riders set out for but never reached.
Original 1961 Freedom Riders and their families are taking part, including relatives of Hank Thomas, John Lewis, Charles Person and the Petway family, with Freedom Rider Joan Trumpauer Mulholland meeting The Ride in Washington, D.C. They are joined by civil rights leaders, faith leaders, artists and pilgrims traveling together in the final weeks before the 2026 midterm elections.
The route covers eight states plus D.C. in two six-day legs. Leg One (October 17–22) travels from Washington, D.C. to South Carolina; Leg Two (October 23–28) runs from Georgia to New Orleans.
Stops include Washington, D.C., Richmond, Petersburg, Lynchburg, Greensboro, Charlotte, Rock Hill, Winnsboro, Sumter, Augusta, Atlanta, Anniston, Birmingham, Nashville, Montgomery, Selma, Jackson, Baton Rouge and New Orleans.
The Ride is led by executive producers Rev. Dr. Michael Waters and Pastor Doug Pagitt, with Rev.
Traci Blackmon as organizing partner. Sura Mallouh is directing the feature documentary being filmed on the road.
The Ride is convened by Vote Common Good, Greater Things Foundation, Faith Out Loud, Americans United and Red Letter Christians. It is a non-partisan 501(c)(3) effort.
Individuals can ride as pilgrims for one leg or the full twelve days. Organizations can send a delegation of 2–10 riders as partners, and sponsors can help fund the buses, community events and the film, or sponsor a 1961 Freedom Rider. Details are at theride2026.org.
About The Ride 2026
The Ride 2026 is a 12-day national bus tour and feature documentary retracing the 1961 Freedom Rides from Washington, D.C. to New Orleans, October 17–28, 2026. Original Freedom Riders, their families, faith leaders, artists and pilgrims travel together through 19 cities in the final weeks before the midterm elections. The Ride is a non-partisan 501(c)(3) effort convened by Vote Common Good, Greater Things Foundation, Faith Out Loud, Americans United and Red Letter Christians. Learn more at theride2026.org.