John F. Kennedy was supportive of the freedom riders and equal rights for African Americans in many ways. He and General Robert F. Kennedy ordered federal marshals multiple times to go and protect the freedom riders by stopping the violence. In a message that John F. Kennedy sent out on May 20, 1961, he said that "the situation in Alabama is of a very big concern to me" and specifically instructed that the violence will no longer continue, and that the governor and other state officials in Alabama should exercise their lawful authority to put a stop to it.
Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy also was supportive of the freedom rides and made a big contribution to their success. He negotiated with governor John Patterson of Alabama and the bus companies to secure a new driver and state protection for a new group of freedom riders, and sent 600 federal marshals to Montgomery to stop the violence towards freedom riders. He also sent the federal marshals once again when Martin Luther King Jr. called him and asked for his protection. This was another way he showed his support for African American equal rights, even outside of the freedom rides.
Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy also was supportive of the freedom rides and made a big contribution to their success. He negotiated with governor John Patterson of Alabama and the bus companies to secure a new driver and state protection for a new group of freedom riders, and sent 600 federal marshals to Montgomery to stop the violence towards freedom riders. He also sent the federal marshals once again when Martin Luther King Jr. called him and asked for his protection. This was another way he showed his support for African American equal rights, even outside of the freedom rides.