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Montgomery Bus Boycott
The Montgomery Bus Boycott was a movement against racial segregation. -
Rosa Parks
Racial segregation was prominent in the South, in most areas of life. If a Black person was sitting in the front section of the bus, they were expected to give up their seat to a white passenger and move to the back. Rosa Parks was a Black woman riding the bus in Montgomery, and she refused to give up her seat to a white passenger, resulting in her arrest and the start of the bus boycott. -
The Women's Political Council
The WPC was alerted of Park's arrest and they began to coordinate the movement for the bus boycott. On Park's court date, they began handing out flyers with information about the boycott. -
Word Begins to Spread
As more and more Black leaders in Montgomery started to hear about the boycott, they began spreading the information in whatever ways they could think of. -
Martin Luther King Jr.
MLK is elected to lead the movement. At the time, he was a 26-year-old pastor in Montgomery. The Montgomery Improvement Association was also created that day. -
MIA
The boycott was not meant to be a drawn-out processed-- it was originally intended to last for one day. But, when the MIA gave its list of demands, they were not met and the boycott continued. -
Carpool System
Most of the typical riders of the bus were Black, and many had no choice but to walk when the bus boycott went into effect. In an effort to make it easier for them, and to sustain the boycott for as long as needed, a carpool system was implemented. -
Met with Violence
There was an attempted bombing at MLK's home. After that, he commits to a fully non-violent, peaceful boycott. -
Trouble with the Law
Following the indictment of several other boycotters, MLK is ordered to either pay a fine or serve time in jail. -
Bus Segregation is Unconstitutional
Finally, after months of protesting, the court declares segregation on the bus systems unconstitutional. -
The Supreme Court Steps In
After upholding the district court ruling, the Supreme Court orders the Montgomery bus system to desegregate. -
The Boycott Ends
Over one year after it began (381 days), the Montgomery Bus Boycott officially came to an end.
