Charles most recently established the Freedom Riders Training Academy, a comprehensive curriculum on nonviolent resistance.
The program, co-founded by Pete Conroy, of the Freedom Riders Park Board, was designed to educate individuals about the principles of peaceful demonstration and the lasting significance of First Amendment rights.
The students in these sit-ins practiced non-violent tactics, which helped make the threats and attacks less interesting for the whites trying to intimidate them.
[6] Person was a member of the original 13 Freedom Riders departing from Washington, D.C. aboard a Trailways bus on May 4, 1961.
After the black riders refused to move to the back, one Klansman rushed Person, punching him in the face.
[10] In Birmingham, Person and fellow Freedom Rider James Peck were designated to test the segregationist policies at the station.
"[12] In the aftermath of George Floyd's murder, Charles called Pete Conroy late in the evening.
In 2024–25, the City of Hoover, Alabama, became the first in the nation to implement the Freedom Riders Training Academy (FRTAcademy) as a part of a deferred prosecution program.
Instead of imposing fines or labor tasks, the FRTAcademy could equip demonstrators with the knowledge to express their rights lawfully, turning a challenging situation into an opportunity for growth.
Susan Fuqua, Hoover's Court Director, quickly saw the value in educating first-time offenders rather than assigning punitive tasks that didn’t offer long-term benefits.
She collaborated with Nick Durgess, Chief of Police for the City of Hoover, who approved the program, recognizing it as a constructive alternative that could strengthen community trust.
The demonstrators' defense was led by Richard Rice, a pro bono attorney who advocated for the FRTAcademy as a compassionate and productive solution.
With his support, Brad Bishop, a Hoover judge, adopted the FRTAcademy as part of the court’s pre-trial diversion program.
This pioneering program not only reduced court caseloads and saved taxpayer dollars, but it also served as an effective justice reform tool, setting an example for communities nationwide.