Week of events planned to remember 70th anniversary of Montgomery Bus Boycott

The City of Montgomery and other groups have a week of events planned to remember the 70th anniversary of the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which helped start the Civil Rights Movement.

It was on December 1, 1955, that seamstress Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery City Bus to a white man and was arrested. Those events led to the bus boycott led by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., which lasted for more than a year and helped launch the fight against segregation.

Rosa Parks, whose refusal to move to the back of a bus touched off the Montgomery bus boycott and the beginning of the civil rights movement, is fingerprinted by officer D.H. Lackey in Montgomery, Ala., Feb. 22, 1956. She was among some 100 people charged with violating segregation laws. (AP Photo/Gene Herrick)

The anniversary celebration spans from November 29 through December 6.

Saturday, November 29 – Youth Leadership Brunch

10:00 AM | St. Paul A.M.E. Church (706 E. Patton Ave.)
Hosted by St. Paul A.M.E. Church, this gathering celebrates emerging youth voices who embody the spirit of leadership and service rooted in the movement.

Sunday, November 30 – 382: A Citywide Moment of Reflection

Churches across Montgomery will simultaneously share a 4–5 minute trailer of ‘382: The Montgomery Bus Boycott Documentary’ and reflect on the movement’s lessons of faith and unity.

Monday, December 1 – Unity Walk for Peace & Justice

5:30 PM | Begins at Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church (454 Dexter Ave.)
Followed by the Ecumenical Convocation & Awards Presentation at 7:00 PM, St. Paul A.M.E. Church, featuring keynote speaker LaTosha Brown.

At 6:06 PM, churches and houses of worship nationwide will participate in the Worldwide Tolling of the Bells to honor Rosa Parks’ arrest and the movement it inspired. Bells will ring at Troy University at Montgomery.

December 1–5 – Free Admission at the Rosa Parks Museum

In partnership with Troy University, the museum invites the public to experience the history of the boycott free of charge throughout the week.

Tuesday, December 2 – Women in History Panel Discussion

Evening discussion presented by the Montgomery Housing Authority and the Rosa Parks Museum celebrating the women who shaped the civil rights movement.

Wednesday, December 3 – A Musical Interpretation of Blacks’ Protest Against Segregation in Montgomery

Presented by the ASU National Center for the Study of Civil Rights and African-American Culture, this commemorative performance explores how music amplified the struggle for justice.

Thursday, December 4 – Film Premiere: The Skin You’re In

6:00 PM | Montgomery Performing Arts Centre (MPAC)
A new film exploring health inequities, race, identity, and resilience, followed by a community conversation.

Friday, December 5 – Mass Meeting: “Where Do We Go From Here?”

5:30 PM | Holt Street Baptist Church (Court Street location)
Featuring Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, IL as keynote speaker, this reimagined mass meeting pays tribute to the spirit of 1955 with music, poetry, and a community call to action.

Saturday, December 6 – Rosa Parks & Ella Baker Youth Call to Action Summit

8:00 AM | Rosa Parks Museum & Mt. Zion A.M.E. Zion Church Annex
A youth-led summit empowering ages 12–20 to engage in civic advocacy, service, and leadership.

Saturday, December 6 – Rosa L. Parks Gala & Awards Program

7:00 PM | Elevation Convening Center & Hotel
A ticketed black-tie celebration honoring civil rights heroes, organizations, and modern champions of equity.

The 70th Anniversary Commemoration is presented through the collective efforts of the City of Montgomery, Southern Youth Leadership Development Institute, Rosa Parks Museum, Alabama State University, Montgomery Housing Authority, and St. Paul A.M.E. Church, among others.

“This commemoration reminds us that Montgomery’s legacy is not just in history books—it lives in our streets, churches, and people today,” Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed said. “Together, we honor those who stood up for justice and continue their work toward unity and equality.”