February 4 marks Transit Equity Day, a day dedicated to honoring the life and legacy of Rosa Parks on her birthday. Rosa Parks, a pivotal figure in the Civil Rights era, reshaped history in 1955 by refusing to give up her seat on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama. Her courageous act sparked the Montgomery bus boycott, ultimately leading to the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision abolishing bus segregation.
To pay homage to Ms. Parks on her birthday, we're reserving a seat for her on each of our 400 buses. Look for a special placard when boarding a bus in any of the eight counties RTS serves. We hope you will take a moment to reflect on Rosa Parks' contributions to the modern-day Civil Rights Movement.
Learn more about Rosa Parks:
Rosa Parks' Biography: Interactive Timeline
Roaming History's Rosa Parks Documentary: Demystifying the Historic Bus Ride
Book excerpt: The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks
Beyond the Bus: Rosa Parks’ Lifelong Struggle for Justice - Library of Congress
An Act of Courage, The Arrest Records of Rosa Parks - National Archives
Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute
Rosa Parks: NAACP.org