WRTA honors Rosa Parks in recognition of Black History Month with seat on each bus

WORCESTER — The Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s was a time when many people took a stand for racial equality. Rosa Parks was no different — though she made her stand by taking a seat.

In recognition of Black History Month and in honor of Rosa Parks, the Worcester Regional Transit Authority has designated a seat on each of its buses in her honor.

Parks, whose birthday was Sunday, is most famous for her part in the Civil Rights movement in 1955, when she refused to give up her seat on the bus to a white rider in defiance of racial segregation laws and was arrested.

In doing so, Parks sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which went on for over a year. She was later arrested again during the boycott in Feb. 1956, eventually becoming known as the "First Lady of Civil Rights." Eventually, bus segregation was deemed unconstitutional in the Nov. 1956 federal case of Browder v. Gayle.

For the month of February, the Worcester Regional Transit Authority is commemorating one seat on each bus with a sign explaining the impact of Parks' actions to better raise awareness of the moment in the fight for civil rights.

“I think it’s awesome, sharing history, showing some facts, so more people know,” said bus rider Andrew Carpenter.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: WRTA honors Rosa Parks in recognition of Black History