Massachusetts Sets February 4 as First Official Rosa Parks Day
Massachusetts made history with its first Rosa Parks Day on February 4, 2024. Governor Maura Healey signed the law on January 8, picking Parks’ birthday for this special recognition.
Following quick movement in late December – with the House giving approval on the 26th and the Senate on the 30th – the bill became law. Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll highlighted how Parks’ brave stand 70 years ago kicked off changes that would tear down segregation barriers across America.
Sen. Lydia Edwards showed her backing, saying that “Rosa Parks personifies resistance and strength.”
State leaders rolled out several initiatives toward racial justice, including new rules for maternal care, pay transparency, clemency guidelines, and setting up a dedicated council focused on Black empowerment.
Parks’ decision to keep her bus seat in 1955 sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott – a huge 381-day protest that drew in 40,000 people. The protest kept going until the Supreme Court knocked down bus segregation.
Before this turning point, the Women’s Political Council had worked for ten years to get fair treatment on buses. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. led the boycott, which became a blueprint for fighting for civil rights.
To honor this day, Worcester Regional Transit Authority is leaving seats empty on its buses during February 4 and nearby dates. This ties into Transit Equity Day, showing how public transportation links to social justice.
Though others had stood up to bus segregation before her, Parks’ arrest sparked a movement that spread nationwide. Her courage pushed forward changes that opened public transportation to all Americans.
