Celebrating a Civil Rights Game Changer

Today marks the 54th Anniversary of Rosa Parks’ historic refusal to give up her seat to a white passenger on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama. While Ms. Parks’ act of civil disobedience and her subsequent arrest were not the first time anyone had dared to challenge racial segregation on buses, it was this incident that sparked a 381-day-long boycott of the Montgomery bus system, resulting in the Supreme Court’s affirming once and for all that separating people by race on public transportation was unconstitutional.

Half a century later, we find ourselves at a time in which many of the rights we’ve fought for in years past are slowly and quietly being eroded. While the court system has both the capacity and the duty to step in and demand equal protection for all, it has turned its back on many in need, from people with disabilities to low-income communities of color shouldering an unfair burden of toxic waste.

As part of its mission to ensure that the courts protect and preserve fairness and justice for all, the National Campaign to Restore Civil Rights (NCRCR) invites you to check out two exciting new projects in the works. NCRCR has started an Audio Interview Series and ‘Real People, Real Stories’, a multimedia project. Both seek to present the perspective of those fighting present-day courtroom battles, putting human faces on the legal issues that affect our lives.

Honor Rosa Parks’ legacy -- learn more about today’s civil rights movement.

The National Campaign to Restore Civil Rights is a collection of more than one hundred civil rights organizations and numerous individuals who came together to ensure that the courts protect and preserve justice, fairness, and opportunity for everyone. The Campaign focuses on public education and outreach, finding ways to get the message out about the impact of court rulings on our communities, our opportunities and our rights.

(Photo by mattlemmon.)