Everything Everywhere Daily · Monday, September 28, 2026
Prior to Rosa Parks' arrest, other Black women in Montgomery also challenged bus segregation. In March 1955, 15-year-old Claudette Colvin was arrested for refusing to yield her seat. In October of the same year, 18-year-old Mary Louise Smith was arrested for the same offense. The Women's Political Council had been actively lobbying city commissioners since 1954 to end bus segregation and driver harassment, warning of a potential boycott.
“In March of 1955, 15-year-old Claudette Colvin was handcuffed and dragged off a city bus for refusing to give up her seat.”
“And in October of that year, 18-year-old Mary Louise Smith was arrested for the same offense.”
“The woman's political council, led by Alabama State College professor Johnnie Rabbinson, had been lobbying city commissioners since 1954 to end bus segregation and driver harassment.”
“And they explicitly warned that a mass boycott was looming.”