Rosa parks refused to give up her seat to a white man she didn't want to give up her seat because she didn't believe she should have to move because of her race, even though that was the law. According to a Montgomery city ordinance in 1955, African Americans were required to sit at the back of public buses and were also obligated to give up those seats to white riders if the front of the bus filled up. Parks was in the first row of the black section when the white driver demanded that she give up her seat to a white man. Parks’ refusal was spontaneous but was not merely brought on by her tired feet, as is the popular legend. In fact, local civil rights leaders had been planning a challenge to Montgomery’s racist bus laws for several months, and Parks had been privy to this discussion. Rosa died on October 24, 2005 (aged 92).
Facts - Nine months before Parks was jailed, 15-year-old Claudette Colvin was the first Montgomery bus passenger to be arrested for refusing to give up her seat for a white passenger.
Facts - Bus seats were left empty to honour Parks on the 50th anniversary of her arrest.
