HAMPTON ROADS, Va. — During Black History Month, Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) is honoring an influential leader of the Civil Rights Movement.
On Friday, HRT honored Rosa Parks on "Transit Equity Day," by providing free transportation.
“There are people who are low income, who are disabled and who are elderly who it's difficult for them to get around,” said Alexis Majied, HRT's chief communications officer.
Rosa Parks is best known as a Civil Rights Leader who did not give up her bus seat to a white passenger in 1955 and was arrested. This act sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which helped launch nationwide efforts to end the segregation of public facilities.
“The way we look at it is it's an opportunity to bring awareness to what Rosa Parks did and how that has had an impact on making transportation equitable for all,” said Majied.
HRT staff said that a front-row seat was designated for rosa parks in her honor and that this day was specifically chosen to help ring in Rosa Parks' birthday, which is Saturday.
