Rosa Parks Day

Rosa Parks Day

Rosa Parks Day is celebrated annually on February 4 in California and Missouri, which is the birthday of Rosa Parks, while in Ohio, Oregon, and Texas, the day is celebrated on December 1st every year – the day she was arrested for her activism. Rosa Parks Day 2024 falls on a Sunday.

Rosa Parks Day is an American observance to honor civil rights activist Rosa Parks, who was known for refusing to give up her seat on a bus.

Rosa Parks Day promotes equal opportunities, civil rights, and fairness across all communities.

Over the years, the Rosa Parks bus has become a symbol of the fight for equal rights. It has been fully restored and is now displayed in the Henry Ford Museum. Rosa Parks’ Day, on February 4, is also known as the Day of Courage.

Who Was Rosa Parks?

Rosa Parks was an African-American woman who played a pivotal role in shaping the history of the United States of America. She is famously known as the “Mother of the Civil Rights Movement” for her brave and defiant act of refusing to give up her seat to a white passenger on a Montgomery bus in 1955. She was arrested due to her act of civil disobedience, which in turn ignited the Montgomery Bus Boycott, a 381-day-long protest against the unjust segregation laws that ruled public transportation in the city.

The Montgomery Bus Boycott was a significant turning point in the Civil Rights Movement and ultimately led to a landmark Supreme Court ruling in 1956 that declared racial segregation on public buses unconstitutional. Rosa Parks’ actions and her unwavering commitment to justice catalyzed change, inspiring a generation of activists to join the fight against racial discrimination and injustice.

Despite facing personal challenges and backlash from those who opposed her activism, Parks remained steadfast in her commitment to social justice and became a symbol of courage, resilience, and determination. She continued to work actively in the Civil Rights Movement, serving as an inspiration and role model to many. Rosa Parks’ legacy is a reminder of the power of individual actions to effect change and the importance of standing up for what is right, even in the face of adversity.

Source: https://www.twinkl.ca/event/rosa-parks-day-usa-2024#

Consider supporting these organizations fighting for civil right: 

Black Legal Action Centre – Canada