Apply to the 2026 Ride
R4RA 2026 Ride Announcement
From June 12–28, 2026 , Riders for Race Amity (R4RA) will embark on a powerful new journey—following the historic Freedom Riders route from Washington, D.C. to Jackson, Mississippi. This youth-led ride continues the spirit of those courageous individuals who challenged segregation in 1961, but reimagines their legacy for today: not through confrontation, but through service, friendship, dialogue, and the healing message of race amity.
Along the way, our youth will:
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Serve communities in every city we enter, building trust and demonstrating unity through action
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Visit major civil rights and historical sites, grounding their understanding of justice in lived history
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Visit all three EJI sites in Montgomery, Alabama—the Legacy Museum, the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, and the Museum on the Freedom Monument Sculpture Park—to deepen their understanding of the struggle for justice and the work still needed
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Engage communities in uplifting conversations that move beyond blame and grievance toward collaboration, dignity, and hope
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Model interracial friendship, showing that America’s other—and often forgotten—tradition is the tradition of amity, mutual support, and shared humanity
At a moment when many feel discouraged, polarized, or hopeless about race in America, our 2026 riders will reinstall hope into the hearts of individuals and communities. Through their courage, sincerity, and youthful clarity, they will invite people to believe again: in the oneness of mankind, in the power of unity, and in the ability of ordinary individuals to build extraordinary friendships across racial lines.
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The world is watching America today, and the example we set will resonate far beyond our borders. This ride demonstrates that healing, service, and interracial friendship can guide a nation forward, offering a model for others around the globe to follow.
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The 2026 Freedom Riders Route Ride is not just a cycling journey.
It is an invitation—to communities, youth, and adults alike—to participate in healing.
It is a call for America to reclaim its capacity for interracial fellowship, justice, and genuine connection.
And it is a living demonstration that unity is not an ideal—it is a practice.
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We invite youth, young adults, and supportive adults to join us on this historic ride as we serve, learn, ride, and help communities rekindle hope and shape a more unified nation.
Riders for Race Amity 2026:
Riding the route of the Freedom Riders.
Reviving the spirit of unity.
Rebuilding the bonds of interracial friendship.
Reaffirming the oneness of mankind in America.
For more information, contact:
KATE VESTLIE