We hope that you join the us in wishing Ms. Rosa Parks a very happy birthday and celebrate Rosa Parks Day.
On December 1, 1955, a bus driver in Montgomery, Alabama told Rosa Parks and everyone in her row to move to the back of the city bus to make room for a white man. While the other black riders in her row moved back, Parks refused, and was arrested for failing to obey the driver’s seat assignments. She was found guilty and fined $10.00 plus court costs of $4.00.
This small act of nonviolent protest took tremendous courage in the segregated 1950’s and led to the Montgomery Bus Boycott. The Boycott is considered a major event in the Civil Rights Movement, involving many of the influential leaders of the Movement, including Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. and Ralph Abernathy. The 381 day boycott nearly bankrupted the bus company and demonstrated the power of non-violent, polictical and social protest. Ms. Parks’ efforts culminated in the United States Supreme Court ruling in Browder v. Gayle, which found the Alabama and Montgomery laws requiring segregated buses to be unconstitutional.
Today, we celebrate the courage and tenacity of this resolute women who sat down for fundamental change in our country. Missouri and California celebrate Rosa Parks Day on February 4th, her birthday. Ohio and Oregon celebrate Ms. Parks on the day she was arrested, December 1st.
