55th Anniversary of Rosa Parks Refusing to Relinquish Her Seat

On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to relinquish her seat on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama.

Parks refusal to give up her seat garnered national attention and assisted in launching the Civil Rights Movement – specifically the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which lasted 381 days. The Supreme Court ruled that the Montgomery bus ordinance requiring African Americans to ride at the rear of the bus was unconstitutional on November 13, 1956. The Montgomery city ordinancedid not go into effect until December 20, 1956. The next day, December 21, 1956, Montgomery’s public transportation system was legally integrated and “the first lady of Civil Rights,” Rosa Parks, was able to ride in the front of the bus.

In 1998, Rosa Parks was the first recipient of the NURFC’s International Freedom Conductor Award. “I have committed my life to freedom for all people, and will do as much as I can for as long as I can,” Parks said at the award ceremony.

Take a moment to reflect on the significance of Rosa Parks’ courage. 55 years ago isn’t all that long ago – America has made great strides but there is still much work to be done to achieve equality and freedom for all.