Montgomery Bus Boycott
1955-12-01Montgomery, Alabamahigh importance
On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white passenger on a Montgomery, Alabama bus. Her arrest sparked a boycott of the city bus system that lasted 381 days. Led by the young Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the boycott demonstrated the power of nonviolent collective action. In 1956, the Supreme Court ruled that segregation on public buses was unconstitutional.
Key Takeaways
1
Rosa Parks' courage sparked a movement
2
Demonstrated the power of nonviolent protest
3
Launched MLK Jr. as a civil rights leader