-
WPC Establishment
The WPC was founded by Mary Fair Banks. WPC provided leadership opportunities for women. -
WPC- Bus Reform
WPC met on many occasions in an effort to better bus services. -
WPC Meets with Mayor Gayle
The WPC meets with Gayle to discuss changes for the Montgomery bus services. Outline included; busses must stop at every corner in primarily black areas, no one could stand over empty seats, etc. However, this initiative failed. -
December 5th Boycott- Publicity Standpoint
Black ministers (MLK and Ralph Abernathy) met and agreed to publicize the 12/5 boycott. Publicity was evident in newspapers, radio stations, and television reports. -
Claudette Colvins Arrested
Claudette Colvin was arrested for challenging segregation on a Montgomery bus. -
Rosa Parks Arrested
Rosa Parks was arrested and fined for refusing to give up her front row seat to a white man. Rosa Parks' actions sparked the Montgomery bus boycott. -
Bus Strike put in Action
The WPC decided to initiate a bus strike, in response to Rosa Park's arrest. December 5th was the decided day. -
Secured Bail for Rosa Parks and Bus Strike
Bail for Rosa Parks was secured and Nixon, leader of the Montgomery chapter of the NAACP, organized black leaders for a planning meeting. -
December 5th Boycott
90% of Montgomery's black citizens stayed off the bus on this day, in protest. -
Montgomery Improvement Association (MIA)
Religious leaders met and organized the MIA, in which MLK was the new leader. Robinson served on the executive board. This group discussed the possibility of extending the bus boycott to other regions of the world. -
Boycott Continues
The MIA votes to continue boycotting busses. A formal list of demands was written and given to Montgomery bus service officials. -
Homes of King and E.D Nixon are Bombed
King and Nixon's homes were bombed and officials recieved injuctions against the boycott. With this being said, 80 people were indicted. King was convicted in the Alabama v. MLK. Even though there was resistance, the boycott continued. -
Bus Segregation Became Unconstitutional
The federal district court ruled in Browder v. Gayle that bus segregation was unconstitutional. The Montgomery Bus Boycott became a success. -
WPC
The WPC continued to work on improving the difficulies faced by African Americans, as well as including women in the fight for racial justice. WPC's early efforts fueled the Montgomery bus boycott and created MIA.