The Freedom Riders faced violence in South Carolina, but in Alabama the reaction was much more severe. One bus was firebombed and the Freedom Riders were beaten. Arriving in Birmingham, the second bus was similarly attacked and the passengers beaten. In both cases law enforcement was suspiciously late in responding, and there were suspicions of collusion in that late response. Although the original Riders were unable to find a bus line to carry them farther, a second group of 10 (I think), originating in Nashville renewed the effort. The new Freedom Riders returned to Birmingham and, at the command of a U.S. Attorney General, secured a bus. As they traveled to Montgomery, where, when local police failed to protect them, they were again beaten.
(This is all from my memory, so the information I have given may not be exact. I hope this was what you are looking for as well)
