PORTLAND, Ore. ( KOIN ) – TriMet announced they will not collect fares for bus or MAX rides on Sunday, Feb. 4 during the agency’s fourth annual tribute to Rosa Parks on what would have been the civil rights icon’s 111th birthday.
In their announcement, TriMet highlighted Parks’ legacy in the Civil Rights Movement — including the day she refused to give up her seat to a white man on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama on Dec. 1, 1955.
“Her act of defiance and resulting arrest sparked protests from the streets of Montgomery that inspired change across the United States. Rosa Parks’ brave act became a cornerstone of the civil rights movement and the catalyst for a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court affirming transportation equity as a civil right,” TriMet said.
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“As TriMet’s first Black General Manager and a person of African American heritage, Rosa Parks’ refusal to give up her seat on a bus affects me personally,” said TriMet General Manager Sam Desue Jr. “I am humbled and beyond proud to lead an organization that provides a public service where all are welcome. TriMet connects people — all people, no matter the color of their skin or where they came from — with opportunity. Ride with us on Rosa Parks’ birthday and think about how we got here. And give thanks.”