MATA honors Rosa Parks by keeping seat open on buses

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Memphis Area Transit Authority honored the legacy of Rosa Parks on Thursday by leaving a seat open on its buses.

Thursday, Dec. 1 marked the 67th anniversary of the day in 1955 when Parks refused to move from a bus seat in Montgomery, Ala., that was reserved for white passengers. At the time, the act was against the law.

Her refusal and ultimate arrest sparked the Montgomery bus boycott, which led to a landmark Supreme Court decision that outlawed segregation on public transportation.

“MATA wants to pay tribute to the life and legacy of Rosa Parks’ tremendous contribution to the Civil Rights Movement,” Bacarra Mauldin, MATA’s chief of staff, said in a statement. “Her courage, grace, dignity and refusal to tolerate inequality transformed our entire nation.”

Each of the seats reserved for Parks has a commemorative sign, honoring her legacy and her dedication to the Civil Rights Movement, MATA said.

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