Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich and County Council Proclaim Tuesday, Dec. 1 Rosa Parks Day

For Immediate Release: Tuesday, December 1, 2020

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich and Montgomery County Council have proclaimed Tuesday, Dec. 1 as Rosa Parks Day in the County. The day recognizes Rosa Parks’ refusal to give up her seat to a white man on a Montgomery, Alabama bus on Thursday, December 1, 1955 and recognizes Parks as an American hero.

“That courageous act of Rosa Parks refusing to move to the back of the bus helped galvanize the Civil Rights movement and triggered the year-long Montgomery, Alabama, bus boycott,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “Her bold heroism resulted in an arrest, jail time, loss of her job, and threats of violence against her. Yet she resisted and shaped American history and inspired change.”

“It is truly an honor to recognize Rosa Parks today,” said Council President Sidney Katz. “Her unprecedented action changed the course of history and for that we are all grateful.  She resisted and persisted; setting a stellar example for all who followed to emulate.”

To mark the occasion and this historic anniversary, Montgomery County Department of Transportation’s (MCDOT) Ride On has installed a placard on each County-operated bus that states “Dedicated to the memory of Rosa Parks.  On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks took a seat on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama, and changed the course of American history.” These placards will remain on every bus in a visible location to today’s bus passengers through the month of December.

All County residents are encouraged to remember Rosa Parks' tireless commitment to a better world and her fearless will to battle injustice at tremendous risk to herself for the sake of the greater good.  We must continue the movement toward a fairer, equitable and just society for all.

Release ID: 20-742
Media Contact: Judy Stiles 240-463-2442