The Montgomery Bus Boycott was a pivotal event in the American Civil Rights Movement, sparked by Rosa Parks' refusal to give up her seat to a white passenger. This act of civil disobedience led to a year-long boycott that challenged racial segregation and propelled Martin Luther King Jr. to national prominence.
Key points:
- Occurred in Montgomery, Alabama, starting on December 1, 1955
- Led by Martin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights activists
- Lasted for 381 days, ending with the desegregation of Montgomery's buses
- Demonstrated the power of nonviolent protest and economic pressure
- Significantly impacted the broader Civil Rights Movement in the United States