Civil rights pioneer Claudette Colvin dies at 86
AP News • • nation
Key Points:
- Claudette Colvin, who was arrested at age 15 in 1955 for refusing to give up her seat on a segregated Montgomery bus, died at age 86 from natural causes in Texas, as announced by the Claudette Colvin Legacy Foundation.
- Colvin's arrest occurred nine months before Rosa Parks' similar act of defiance, and she was one of four plaintiffs in the landmark lawsuit that ended racial segregation on Montgomery buses.
- Despite her pivotal role, Colvin's bravery was often overlooked compared to Parks, but Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed emphasized her foundational contribution to the civil rights movement.
- Colvin sought to have her court record expunged in 2021 to inspire future generations by showing that
