The release below by the Baltimore Transit Equity Coalition celebrates the proclimation made by Mayor Catherine Pugh to designate December 21st as Transit Equity Action Day in Baltimore:
For Immediate Release: December 21, 2018
The Baltimore Transit Equity Coalition proposes to designate December 21 as Transit Equity Action Day in Baltimore as a fist step toward such recognition nation-wide. We seek recognition of the influence of the victory in the Montgomery Bus Boycott on contemporary attempts to establish transit equity as a "respected and lawfully enforced principle."
Baltimore’s Mayor Catherine E. Pugh has issued a Proclamation designating December 21, 2018 as Transit Equity Action Day in Baltimore “To honor the victory for transit equity in the Montgomery Bus Boycott – December 21, 1956.” With this proclamation, the Baltimore Transit Equity Coalition along with Amalgamated Transit Union Local 85 in Pittsburgh have taken the lead in recognizing the Montgomery Bus Boycott as “the light on the path we have chosen, to establish transit equity as a lawfully enforced principle across the nation.”
Support for our campaign is dedicated to building throughout the coming year in order to give the significance of the Montgomery Boycott and its influence in the continuing struggle for transit equity - 62 years later - the recognition it warrants. There are many stories to be brought to public attention, including those of the named plaintiffs and legal strategists in Browder v. Gayle and of course, those who kept to the daily grind to maintain solidarity for 382 days until the Boycott was victorious.
This designation is supported by Ms. Claudette Colvin, the first woman to be arrested in Montgomery for refusing to relinquish her seat on the bus to a white rider - nine months before the arrest of Rosa Parks. In fact, each of the four named plaintiffs in the Supreme Court case, including Ms. Colvin, had refused to relinquish her seat in deference to a white passenger. Additionally, this designation is supported by legendary civil rights attorney, Fred Gray of Montgomery, who brought the decisive Supreme Court case leading to the end of the Montgomery boycott.
We recognize Ms. Claudette Colvin, and so many of those who sacrificed, who made victory possible. It is uncanny to realize that 62 years later, there has been no other such victory in the nation's history.
Press inquiries may be directed to Mr. Samuel Jordan, President of the Baltimore Transit Equity Coalition at Samuel.Jordan@msn.com (443)-765-2638.