On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks, an African American seamstress, boarded a bus in Montgomery, Alabama, after a long day of work. As the bus became crowded, she was instructed to give up her seat to a white passenger, as per the racial segregation laws prevailing at that time. Parks famously refused, citing her tiredness from the struggles of discrimination that she faced daily. Her refusal was not merely a spontaneous act; it was premeditated, motivated by her longstanding commitment to civil rights and activism. This led to her arrest by police, attracting immediate public attention. It was a pivotal moment that would significantly contribute to the growing network of resistance against racial discrimination in the South.

Parks’s arrest sparked outrage within the African American community and prompted a collective response led by civil rights leaders, including Martin Luther King Jr. The Montgomery Improvement Association was formed, leading to the initiation of the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which aimed to bring an end to bus segregation. The boycott lasted 381 days and was a powerful display of nonviolent resistance, mobilizing thousands of citizens to refuse to use buses. The success of the boycott brought national attention to the civil rights movement and highlighted the struggles faced by African Americans, setting a precedent for future civil rights actions.