Montgomery Bus Boycott

About

The Montgomery Bus Boycott was a pivotal civil rights event in the United States, lasting from December 5, 1955, to December 20, 1956. It began after Rosa Parks, an African-American woman, was arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a white person on a Montgomery bus. This act of defiance sparked widespread outrage and mobilized the African-American community to boycott the city's buses. The boycott was led by figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and supported by organizations such as the Montgomery Improvement Association and the Women's Political Council. The boycott's success was due to its economic impact, as African-Americans made up 75% of the bus ridership. Despite facing threats and intimidation, the community persevered, using alternative transportation methods like carpools. The boycott culminated in the federal court case Browder v. Gayle, which declared Montgomery's segregation laws unconstitutional. This ruling was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court, effectively ending segregation on public buses in Montgomery. The boycott marked a significant milestone in the civil rights movement, inspiring similar protests across the South and cementing Martin Luther King Jr.'s role as a leading figure in the fight for racial equality.