The Montgomery Bus Boycott (dec 5, 1955 – dec 20, 1956)

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The Montgomery Bus Boycott was a pivotal protest against racial segregation on the public bus system in Montgomery, Alabama, that lasted from December 5, 1955, to December 20, 1956. It is considered a foundational event in the U.S. Civil Rights Movement.  

For 381 days, African Americans in Montgomery, who constituted the majority of the bus system's ridership, refused to ride the buses. Instead, they organized carpools, walked long distances, or found other means of transportation. This widespread participation demonstrated the community's solidarity and determination to end segregation.  

The boycott had a significant economic impact on the Montgomery City Lines, which lost a substantial amount of revenue. Despite facing harassment, intimidation, and even violence, the protesters remained steadfast. The MIA filed a lawsuit, Browder v. Gayle, challenging the constitutionality of the Alabama state laws and Montgomery city ordinances that mandated segregation on buses.  

On November 13, 1956, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a lower court ruling, declaring that segregation on public buses was unconstitutional. This landmark decision was a major victory for the Civil Rights Movement. The Montgomery Bus Boycott ended on December 20, 1956, with the desegregation of Montgomery's public transportation system.  

The boycott demonstrated the effectiveness of nonviolent resistance as a tool for social change and brought Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to the forefront of the Civil Rights Movement. It inspired similar protests across the South and played a crucial role in the fight against segregation in the United States.

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