Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On November 13, 1956, the United States Supreme Court upheld a lower court decision in Browder v. Gayle declaring Alabama laws requiring segregated buses illegal.
On April 19, 1955, Aurelia Browder* was arrested for sitting in the white section of a Montgomery, Alabama public bus and refusing to give up her seat to a white man.
Ms. Browder was warned that "agitating" could get her killed, but she responded...
"If you live and haven't stood for anything, you don't live for anything either."
The Browder v. Gayle case actually involved five plaintiffs. In addition to Browder, they included Claudette Colvin, Susie McDonald, Jeanetta Reese and Margaret Louise Smith. Browder was the namesake in the case because of her age.
The lawsuit, filed against Montgomery mayor William A. Gayle**., challenged the constitutionality of the statute requiring city buses to be segregated by race.
On June 5, 1956, the lower court ruled "enforced segregation...on motor buses...violates the Constitution of the United States."
The city of Montgomery appealed the case to the U.S. Supreme Court which handed down its ruling on November 13. The ruling upholding the lower court decision was made official on December 20, 1956.
*Aurelia Shines Browder Coleman (1919-1971) was born in Montgomery, AL & became a seamstress & teacher. She earned her B.S. at Alabama State University where she graduated with honors.
**William Armistead "Tacky" Gayle, Jr. (1896-1965) was born in Montgomery, AL, served in WWI & was educated at the US Naval Academy & University of Alabama. WAG served as mayor of Montgomery 1951-1959.
SOURCE
"Browder v. Gayle," by Jonathan Gold, Summer 2016, Teaching Tolerance, www.tolerance.org/
