During the 1960’s Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders did not have the same rights as other Australians. If they were born an Aborigine they were not allowed to enter a pub, vote, swim in public pools or even eat at a restaurant. The discrimination that Aborigines received during and prior to the 1960s was disgraceful. A particular event in 1965 made a significant difference which changed the Australian constitution about the Aborigine rights forever. This particular event is the Freedom rides. The freedom rides in Australia was inspired by the Freedom riders of the American Civil rights. Led by the aboriginal activist, Charles Perkins, the Freedom Rides of1965 was a significant event that raised public awareness of indigenous people’s inequity in Australia which then contributed greatly to the 1967 referendum. A group of 35 students drove around the towns of NSW protesting and raising awareness of the harsh reality that the Aborigines faced in Australia. "This event was the beginning of resetting the relationship between Aboriginal people and non-Aboriginal people in contemporary Australia." Many methods were used by aboriginal activists in order to achieve aboriginal equality. Arguably, the most effective of these methods was the campaign of the freedom rides. The group known as the "Student Action for Aboriginals" (SAFA), travelled in the country towns of NSW to change the minds of the people in those areas who were most resistant to change. The succession of this campaign was the amount of media coverage that this campaign received from the demonstrations they performed in the country towns. Many of the participants of the Freedom rides were astonished by the amount of discrimination that the indigenous community were receiving in these country town regions. In the towns Aboriginal people were routinely barred from clubs, swimming pools and cafes. They were frequently refused service in shops and refused drinks in hotels.