Oretha Castle's home served as the New Orleans headquarters for the Freedom Riders. With help from Oretha's mother Virgie and sister Doris, their home housed and fed hundreds of Freedom Riders coming and going throughout the summer. New Orleans CORE sponsored several Freedom Rides through Louisiana and Mississippi. When two Freedom Riders were beaten in New Orleans in early August, CORE staged a demonstration at Police Headquarters. Oretha Castle was one of fifteen arrested. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy was delegated the task of solving the problem. He petitioned and pressured the Interstate Commerce Commission, ICC, and finally on November 1, the "whites only" signs were removed. The success of the Freedom Rides raised the profile and bolstered the reputation of CORE.
