Bham Now special: Inspirational video of Hank Thomas, the last surviving Freedom Rider from the 1961 Greyhound bus burning
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Thanks to President Obama’s proclamation yesterday, Freedom Riders National Monument and the Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument are now a reality.
In a Bham Now exclusive – Check out the video below of Hank Thomas, the last remaining Freedom Rider from the Greyhound bus burning, speaking to Secretary of Interior Sally Jewell in October, alongside the site where the bus was burned. At approximately 5:50 on the video, Thomas talks about a 12 year old girl named Janie Forsyth McKinney, who in the midst of a mob, gave Thomas water after he escaped the burning bus. McKinney and Thomas 55 years later, both requested the Secretary and the President to support the National Monument proclamation.
Today, the President followed through on that request.
Want to learn more about the Freedom Rider National Monument? Visit the Freedom Riders Park website, which includes in under the media subheading videos of Freedom Riders and community leaders.