Photo via: History.com
In December of 1955, Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a white passenger on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama. Parks' act of civil disobedience sparked the 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott, where African Americans refused to ride Alabama city buses for 381 days. It went on to become one of the nation’s largest and most successful demonstrations.
Photo via: Biography.com
Now, over six decades after her brave act changed history, the Alabama legislative has designated December 1 as Mrs. Rosa Parks Day to honor the mother of the civil rights movement. The house passed the bill on Thursday in a 102-0 vote; the bill will now move to the governor to be signed into law.
According to U.S. News, "The day will not be a full-fledged state holiday, but counties and municipalities can elect to observe Dec. 1 as a holiday."
Photo credit: Troy Glasgow/AP
Hopefully in the near future, Mrs. Rosa Parks Day will be a full-fledged national holiday. In the meantime, we will continue to honor Rosa Parks for sitting down to stand up.