November 27, 2013

The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) will honor Rosa Parks an African American woman who refused to give up her seat on a segregated bus. Sunday, December 1, 2013, marks the 58th anniversary of her act of courage and civil disobedience on a Montgomery, Alabama bus. This year marks Rosa Parks’ centennial birthday; the Civil Rights crusader died in 2005, but her legacy lives on.

To pay tribute to Rosa Parks and the anniversary of the event that triggered the Montgomery bus boycott, RIPTA will participate in the Rosa Parks Human Rights Day Committee’s celebration of Rosa Parks Day on Sunday, December 1, 2013 at 12:45pm. The ceremony will occur in the Olneyville section of Providence near The King’s Cathedral located at 1860 Westminster Street. A RIPTA bus will be used in the committee’s re-enactment of Rosa’s refusal to move from her bus seat.

In addition, RIPTA will place a commemorative bus advertisement and a digital display on board buses during the month of December. The sign is dedicated to Ms. Parks in honor of her role in launching the modern civil rights movement that helped end legal segregation in America.

For more information on the Rosa Parks Human Rights Day Committee, please call 401-481-6672 or email liberator401@cox.net. For more information on schedules or other RIPTA services, please call 781-9400 or visit ripta.com.