How Did Rosa Parks Convicted
Computer Number: 19
Period 3
Montgomery Bus Boycott
On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks was arrested because she refused to give up her seat to a white man. It was unlikely that she realized the force she had set into motion and the controversy that would soon swirl around her. “I didn’t get on the bus with the intention of being arrested,” she said.
Earlier that year in March 2, 1955, a 15-year old girl Claudette Colvin was the first person arrested for resisting bus segregation in Montgomery, Alabama. Actually, “Colvin did not violate city bus policy by not relinquishing her seat. She was not sitting in the front seats reserved for whites, and there was no other place for her to sit. But despite the apparent legality of her refusal to give up her seat, Colvin was still convicted. …show more content…
But pressure increased quickly after Rosa Parks was arrested.
Parks’ trial happened on December 5, four days after her arrest. Jo Ann Robinson, who was president of the Women’s Political Council, planned a one-day bus boycott on the day of Parks’ trial. They sent out convincing fliers to tell all blacks to stay off bus that day. It turned out that the participation rate was much higher than the leaders’ expectation. The city buses were essentially empty and they bus company lost 65% of its profit. Parks was convicted guilty within thirty minutes after the trial started. She was fined $14, but that decision would further stir the black community to action.
After Park’s trial, the council thought that the boycott was so successful that they should continue. They started recruiting leaders in order to precede the boycott. When they talked to Martin Luther King Jr., he agreed. His speech stirred the thousand or more people that packed into every corner of the
church.
The historic Montgomery Bus Boycott had begun. It would last for 381 days, a movement which life for virtually every black Montgomerian will be changed dramatically. For the first few days, they were able to convince then taxi company to lower the pay rate, but they realized if they don't come up with an alternative transportation system, the bus boycott would not continue for long. As a result, the churches bought cars, and created carpool system in place of the city buses. Pick-up and delivery points were designated around the city and routes were established. The carpool system soon developed into an efficient, cost-effective transportation.
Although the plan looked successful, various forms of intimidation took place. Leaders' homes were being bombed, and blacks became subjects to violence. On Jan. 30, 1956, which is the day the Martin Luther King Jr.’s home was bombed in the early morning hours, the executive board of the MIA decided to sue in federal court, know as Browder v. Gayle. After almost nine months, the federal court ruled in favor of the plaintiff, which result in desegregation of Montgomery city buses. After the decision, blacks voted to end the boycott. That occurred on Dec. 20, 1956, and black Montgomerians — led by King — returned to the city buses the next day. The 381-day boycott of Montgomery buses finally had ended. Not only could the black residents of Montgomery now ride city buses as equals, thanks to their efforts, so could many other black citizens throughout the nation.
Period 3
Montgomery Bus Boycott
On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks was arrested because she refused to give up her seat to a white man. It was unlikely that she realized the force she had set into motion and the controversy that would soon swirl around her. “I didn’t get on the bus with the intention of being arrested,” she said.
Earlier that year in March 2, 1955, a 15-year old girl Claudette Colvin was the first person arrested for resisting bus segregation in Montgomery, Alabama. Actually, “Colvin did not violate city bus policy by not relinquishing her seat. She was not sitting in the front seats reserved for whites, and there was no other place for her to sit. But despite the apparent legality of her refusal to give up her seat, Colvin was still convicted. …show more content…
But pressure increased quickly after Rosa Parks was arrested.
Parks’ trial happened on December 5, four days after her arrest. Jo Ann Robinson, who was president of the Women’s Political Council, planned a one-day bus boycott on the day of Parks’ trial. They sent out convincing fliers to tell all blacks to stay off bus that day. It turned out that the participation rate was much higher than the leaders’ expectation. The city buses were essentially empty and they bus company lost 65% of its profit. Parks was convicted guilty within thirty minutes after the trial started. She was fined $14, but that decision would further stir the black community to action.
After Park’s trial, the council thought that the boycott was so successful that they should continue. They started recruiting leaders in order to precede the boycott. When they talked to Martin Luther King Jr., he agreed. His speech stirred the thousand or more people that packed into every corner of the
church.
The historic Montgomery Bus Boycott had begun. It would last for 381 days, a movement which life for virtually every black Montgomerian will be changed dramatically. For the first few days, they were able to convince then taxi company to lower the pay rate, but they realized if they don't come up with an alternative transportation system, the bus boycott would not continue for long. As a result, the churches bought cars, and created carpool system in place of the city buses. Pick-up and delivery points were designated around the city and routes were established. The carpool system soon developed into an efficient, cost-effective transportation.
Although the plan looked successful, various forms of intimidation took place. Leaders' homes were being bombed, and blacks became subjects to violence. On Jan. 30, 1956, which is the day the Martin Luther King Jr.’s home was bombed in the early morning hours, the executive board of the MIA decided to sue in federal court, know as Browder v. Gayle. After almost nine months, the federal court ruled in favor of the plaintiff, which result in desegregation of Montgomery city buses. After the decision, blacks voted to end the boycott. That occurred on Dec. 20, 1956, and black Montgomerians — led by King — returned to the city buses the next day. The 381-day boycott of Montgomery buses finally had ended. Not only could the black residents of Montgomery now ride city buses as equals, thanks to their efforts, so could many other black citizens throughout the nation.