NAACP Commemorates 70th Anniversary of Rosa Parks’s Historic Act of Courage

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 1, 2025

Contact: Chyna Fields, [email protected]

WASHINGTON - On the 70th anniversary of Rosa Parks's defining moment that reshaped the civil rights movement, the NAACP honors the way her bravery continues to guide the fight for justice today. Her courageous refusal to surrender her seat on a Montgomery bus sparked a movement, which was organized by the Montgomery Branch of the NAACP, where she was an active member.

Derrick Johnson, President and CEO of the NAACP, shared this statement:

"Seventy years ago, Rosa Parks - a committed NAACP member and lifelong advocate for Black advancement - made a choice that changed the course of American history. Her arrest ignited the Montgomery Bus Boycott, a powerful demonstration of strategic, community-led resistance. Rosa Parks's act was never simply about a seat - it was a declaration that Black Americans would no longer accept second-class citizenship."

"Rosa Parks's legacy also reminds us of the often-overlooked leadership of Black women who have always stood at the forefront of civil rights progress. As efforts intensify to rewrite our history, we must continue educating future generations about the truth of their leadership and the sacrifices that paved the way for today's freedoms.

"As we reflect on this anniversary, we cannot ignore that many of the same injustices Rosa Parks confronted persist in modern forms - from voter suppression to systemic exclusion. The NAACP remains unwavering in honoring her legacy by advancing policies that defend our rights, expand our power, and protect the dignity of Black communities nationwide."

The Montgomery Bus Boycott was one of the most effective demonstrations in American history, leading to the striking down of Alabama's racist, exclusionary laws, which prohibited Black Americans from receiving the same rights of their white counterparts at that time. The boycotts showed us all what's possible when the Black community joins together to leverage our collective buying power. Now, 70 years later, we're still speaking with our dollars and have newly issued our Buy Black gift guide in addition to our Black Consumer Advisory, which launched earlier this year and is regularly updated.

The NAACP encourages individuals and institutions nationwide to use this anniversary as a call to action: to learn, mobilize, and continue the urgent work of building a more just and equitable nation.

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About NAACP

The NAACP advocates, agitates, and litigates for the civil rights due to Black America. Our legacy is built on the foundation of grassroots activism by the biggest civil rights pioneers of the 20th century and is sustained by 21st-century activists. From classrooms and courtrooms to city halls and Congress, our network of members across the country works to secure the social and political power that will end race-based discrimination. That work is rooted in racial equity, civic engagement, and supportive policies and institutions for all marginalized people. We are committed to a world without racism where Black people enjoy equitable opportunities in thriving communities.

NOTE: The Legal Defense Fund - also referred to as the NAACP-LDF - was founded in 1940 as a part of the NAACP, but now operates as a completely separate entity.