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Birth of the Women's Political Council
In 1949, Professor Mary Fair Burks, a teacher at Alabama State College, founded the Women's Political Council (WPC) in Montgomery, Alabama. The WPC was a local political organization that encouraged African American women to become more involved politically. -
Jo Ann Robinson Bus Incident
In December 1949, Jo Ann Robinson experienced a racist incident where the bus driver yelled at her for sitting in the eighth row of the bus when the first ten rows were reserved for white passengers only, whether or not the seats were taken. Sitting in the white-only area of the bus was prohibited. Due to her traumatic experience, she began to organize a plan against segregated bus systems in Montgomery. -
Jo Ann Robinson becomes President of the WPC
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Vernon Johns Bus Incident
In the early 1950s, Vernon Johns was kicked off of a Montgomery bus for not giving up his seat. -
Claudette Colvin Bus Incident
On March 2nd, 1955, Claudette Colvin, who was only 15 years old, was forcibly removed from a Montgomery bus and arrested. -
Rosa Park's Bus Incident
On December 1st, 1955, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white citizen. Though bus drivers did not have the authority to tell passengers to move, they could refuse service and call the police to remove them. Rosa Parks was then arrested and taken to jail for not giving up her seat to a white passenger. -
Robinson notifies town of Boycott
On December 2nd, Robinson mimeographed and delivered 50,000 papers stating that the boycott would begin on December 5th. When the day came, there were no black passengers on the buses. -
Meeting at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church
On December 4th, ED Nixon organized a meeting at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church where they formed the Montgomery Improvement Association (MIA) to discuss the boycott and negotiate with the bus companies. -
Montgomery Bus Boycott Began
On December 5th, 1955, the Montgomery Bus Boycott began. Due to the flyer that was passed out and made by Robinson, there were no black passengers on the bus. Though the boycott was originally planned to be one day, with over a 90% success rate, leaders decided to continue the boycott. -
MIA incorporates Carpool System
On December 13th, 1955, the Montgomery Improvement Association decided to integrate the carpool system to help others get around without having to ride the bus. -
Filed Lawsuit in Federal Court
In February of 1956, four women (Aurelia Browder, Claudette Colvin, Mary Louise Smith, and Susie McDonald) filed a lawsuit in court discussing that segregation on buses violated the Fourteenth Amendment. The case was appealed and the boycott continued. -
Supreme Court Rules Segregation on Buses as Unconstitutional
On June 5th, 1956, The Supreme Court ruled segregation on buses unconstitutional. Though the Supreme Court ruled segregation on buses as unconstitutional, Montgomery stilled practiced segregation on buses. -
Supreme Court Rules Alabama's Laws as Unconstitutional
On November 13th, 1956, the Supreme Court ruled Alabama's segregation laws as unconstitutional. -
Montgomery Bus Boycott Ends
On December 12th, 1956, Montgomery buses are officially and finally desegregated. The MIA ends the boycott.