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Formation of NAACP
On February 12th, 1909, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People was formed. This organization would play critical and crucial roles in the furthering of civil rights in the United States and would be involved in countless, historical victories for the advancement and strengthening of civil rights. -
Rosa Parks joins NAACP
Rosa Parks joined the Montgomery NAACP in 1943 as the branch's secretary. Eventually becoming the state secretary by 1947. -
Women's Political Council was formed
In 1949 the Women's Political Council to elevate and improve the lives of African Americans and to increase the political leverage available to the black community. This organization was calling for bus boycotts and changes in the community. -
Brown v. Board of Education
The Supreme Court unanimously ruled that "separate but equal" segregation in schools was unconstitutional. -
Claudette Colvin arrest
15-year-old Claudette Colvin refused to give up her seat to a white passenger on a Montgomery bus and was arrested. After Claudette's arrest, Martin Luther King Jr. joined the discussions of a boycott. -
Aurelia Browder arrest
37-year-old Aurelia Browder refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery bus and was arrested. -
Murder of Emmett Till
14 year old Emmett Till visiting family in Chicago was falsely accused of accosting a white store worker. The husband and 2 accomplices abducted Emmett and savagely mutilated and murdered him. The open casket funeral ensured people would see what was done by white supremacist. Pictures were shared by the media and were a catalyst for the modern Civil rights movement. -
acquittal of Till murderers
an all white jury deliberated for an hour before acquitting the accused murderers of Emmett Till. Leading to protests and national outcry for protection of black americans. -
Mary Louise Smith arrest
18-year-old Mary Louise Smith was arrested after refusing to give up her seat on a Montgomery bus to a white passenger. -
Rosa Parks arrest
Rosa Parks, angry over the acquittal of Emmett Till's murderers, is arrested after refusing to give up her seat on a bus to a white passenger in violation of Montgomery laws that required black passengers to surrender seats to white passengers. -
Montgomery Improvement Association
The Montgomery Improvement Association was formed by leaders of the black community in Montgomery, Alabama.
The MIA was formed to handle the continuation and oversight of a lengthened bus boycott. The association also advocated for first-come/first-served seating, employment of black bus drivers, and better treatment of black passengers by bus operators. -
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Montgomery Bus Boycott
A civil rights during which African Americans refused to ride city buses in Montgomery, Alabama. This is regarded as the first large scale U.S. demonstration against segregation. -
Rights leaders indicted
In February of 1956, the city of Montgomery indicted nearly 90 boycott leaders, including Martin Luther King Jr. They were cited as being in violation of a 1921 Alabama anti-boycott law. -
Prosecution of Martin Luther King Jr.
Of the original nearly 90 boycott leaders arrested, Martin Luther King Jr. is the only one to be prosecuted. Dr. King was fined a thousand dollars and received a suspended jail sentence of a year of hard labor. -
Bus segregation deemed unconstitutional
The panel of a Federal District Court ruled 2-1 that Alabama bus segregation was unconstitutional. The ruling was lauded as a victory for civil rights, but the Montgomery bus boycott would continue until the implementation of the ruling.
The NAACP provided funding and attorneys to represent the plaintiffs. -
End of bus segregation
The Supreme Court struck down laws dictating racial segregation on Montgomery Buses. On December 20th, the orders against segregation were delivered to Montgomery, and the following day, segregation officially ended on Montgomery buses. -
Bus boycott ends
After 381 days of boycott, Martin Luther King Jr. and the Montgomery Improvement Association voted to end the Montgomery bus boycott. The buses were integrated the next day. This event established the beginning of the Civil Rights Movement and established Martin Luther King Jr. as a leader of the movement.