March 1954
The Women’s Political Council meets with Montgomery mayor W. A. Gayle to outline their recommended changes for the Montgomery bus system
March 2, 1955
Claudette Colvin arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a white woman.
March 1955
Black leaders in Montgomery, including E. D. Nixon, Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr meet with city officials to discuss bus seating requirements
October 21, 1955
Mary Louise Smith arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a white woman
December 1, 1955
Rosa Parks arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a white passenger
December 2, 1955
The WPC calls for a one-day bus boycott on December 5
December 5, 1955
Instead of the expected 60% turnout, an estimated 90%-100% of the black community in Montgomery choose to participate in the boycott. Black leaders meet to dicuss the possibility of extending the boycott. The Montgomery Improvement Association (MIA) is created at this meeting, and Dr. King elected its president. The MIA votes to extend the boycott
December 8, 1955
The MIA issues a formal list of demands. The city refuses to comply
December 13, 1955
The MIA implements a carpool system to support citizens taking part in the boycott
January 30, 1956
Dr. King's home is bombed. In response, Dr. King calls for peaceful protest rather than violent action
February 1, 1956
E. D. Nixon's home is bombed
February 21, 1956
Over 80 boycott leaders are indicted by the city under Alabama's anti-conspiracy laws
March 19, 1956
Dr. King is indicted as a leader of the boycott and ordered to pay $500 or serve 386 days in jail
June 5, 1956
A federal district court rules that bus segregation is unconstitutional
November 13, 1956
The Supreme Court upholds the district court ruling, and strikes down laws requiring racial segregation on buses. The MIA resolves to end the boycott only when the order to desegregate is officially implemented
December 20, 1956
The Supreme Court's orders of injunction against segregation on city buses are delivered to the Montgomery City Hall
December 21, 1956
Montgomery's buses are officially desegregated. The MIA ends the boycott.
1955 to 1959
Mobilizing against injustice
Mobilizing against injustice










