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Women's Political Council is founded
The WPC is a local civil organization of black professionals formed to fight racism in Alabama. -
The Women's Political Council meets with the mayor
The WPC meets with the mayor of Montgomery mayor W.A Gayle to outline the changes they wanted to see in the Montgomery bus system. -
Claudette Colvin is arrested
Claudette Colvin is arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a white woman. -
Mary Louise Smith is arrested
Mary Louise Smith is arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a white woman. -
The arrest of Rosa Parks
Rosa Parks is arrested in Montgomery for refusing to give up her bus seat to a white man. -
Black Leaders Meet
Former leader of NAACP, E.D. Nixon, calls black leaders, including Ralph Abernathy and Martin Luther Kind Jr., to organize a planning meeting. -
Montgomery Bus Boycott Begins/ Montgomery Improvement Association is formed
The WPC calls for a one-day bus boycott where an estimated 90% of Montgomery's black citizens stay off the buses. Black leaders meet to discuss extending the boycott, the MIA is formed. -
MIA Issues a Formal List of Demands
MIA issues a formal list of demands including courteous treatment by bus drivers, first-come first-served seating for all, and black bus operators on predominately black routes. The city refuses to comply. -
The MIA Implements a Carpool System
The MIA implements a carpool system to support citizens that are participating in the boycott after the city and white citizens try to defeat the boycott. -
Martin Luther King Jr.'s House Bombed
Martin Luther King Jr.'s house is bombed while he is speaking at a Montgomery meeting. He calls for peaceful action, not violence. -
E.D Nixon's House is Bombed
E.D Nixon's house is bombed just two days after Dr. King's house. -
Boycott Leaders Indicted
City officials indicted over 80 boycott leaders under Alabama's anti-conspiracy laws. -
Martin Luther King Jr. is Convicted
Dr. King is convicted and charged as a leader of the boycott and ordered to pay $500 or serve 386 days in jail. -
Federal District Court Rules Bus Segregation Unconstitutional
The federal district court ruled in Browder v. Gayle that bus segregation is unconstitutional. -
Supreme Court Upholds District Court Ruling
The Supreme Court upholds the district court ruling, striking down laws requiring racial segregation on buses. The MIA resolves to end the boycott only when the order to desegregate is officially implemented. -
King Calls for End of Boycott
The federal decision goes into effect, and Dr. King calls for the end of the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the community agrees.