Contact: Kevin Elwood
Phone: (336) 382-2775

Greensboro Transit Authority Recognizes
Rosa Parks Day Saturday, December 1

GREENSBORO, NC – (November 30, 2007) – On Saturday, December 1, Greensboro Transit Authority (GTA) will join various public transportation providers around the country in recognizing Rosa Parks Day.

All GTA and HEAT buses on Saturday will reserve the first seat on the vehicle with a gold ribbon.  The tribute will be a silent reminder of her role in improving lives for African Americans and people of all races.

It was 52 years ago tomorrow that the unknown seamstress from Montgomery, Alabama performed an act of courage that became a catalyst for the modern day civil rights movement. Her refusal to give up a seat on Montgomery Bus #2857 defied the city code requiring separation of races, and her subsequent arrest triggered the start of the bus boycott and the struggle for equal rights throughout the South.

“It was very appropriate on that Thursday evening in 1955, public transportation became a focal point of the battle for civil rights,” said Libby James, Public Transportation Manager for Greensboro Transit Authority. “Municipal transit systems were heavily utilized in the 1950s by citizens of all races. In many places unfortunately, their operations mirrored community attitudes and even municipal laws with a virtual dividing line in the bus aisle separating the races. But Mrs. Parks’ standing up…or rather, sitting down, focused the attention of the nation on equal rights of all Americans.”

The Greensboro Department of Transportation (GDOT) seeks to increase public safety and mobility through the effective planning and delivery of transportation services and operation of municipal transit.  For more information about GDOT, contact us at (336) 373-GDOT (4368) or visit www.greensboro-nc.gov/gdot.

The City of Greensboro works in partnership with the community to build an increased quality of life for all residents by fostering an environment where inclusion, diversity, and trust are valued.  As the seventh largest employer in Greensboro, the City has a dedicated professional staff of 2700 employees who maintain four core values of honesty, integrity, stewardship, and respect.  The City of Greensboro is governed by a council-manager form of government where a mayor and eight council members act as the legislative body.  For more information on the City of Greensboro, please visit us online at www.greensboro-nc.gov.

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