The civil rights movement was nothing if not a violent struggle. 

The courageous actions of Black women and men 60 years ago sparked pivotal civil rights battles against school and business segregation, police brutality and voting exclusion. Many of the activists were high school or college students risking their lives and futures.

People who fought for racial justice in 1961 take us back in history to the moments when they risked everything on the Seven Days of 1961 podcast, from USA TODAY.

We’re bringing 5 Things listeners a special preview of first full episode of Seven Days of 1961, “Violent white mob protests integration. Kenneth Dious ran to the crowd, ready to fight.”

In the episode, Kenneth Dious shares his story of the night he stood guard for a Black student who had just attended her first day of classes at the University of Georgia. He was only 15 years old when word spread in his hometown of Athens, Georgia, that a violent white mob had gathered outside the dorm room of Charlayne Hunter-Gault. Kenneth and three other Black men rushed to the crowd, ready to fight if needed.

New episodes of Seven Days of 1961 drop every Tuesday starting Nov. 2nd. 

Get access to the full podcast at the links below:

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Listen on Spotify

Listen on Google Podcasts

Read more stories in this project at sevendaysof1961.usatoday.com.

Read full transcript of podcast here.

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