By — Associated Press Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/claudette-colvin-who-helped-spark-civil-rights-movement-by-refusing-to-move-bus-seats-dies-at-86 Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Claudette Colvin, who helped spark civil rights movement by refusing to move bus seats, dies at 86 Politics Jan 13, 2026 6:00 PM EST WASHINGTON (AP) — Claudette Colvin, whose 1955 arrest for refusing to give up her seat on a segregated Montgomery bus helped spark the modern civil rights movement, has died. She was 86. Her death was announced Tuesday by the Claudette Colvin Legacy Foundation. Ashley D. Roseboro of the organization confirmed she died in Texas. READ MORE: Eva Schloss, Holocaust survivor and stepsister of Anne Frank, dies at 96 Colvin was arrested months before Rosa Parks gained international fame before refusing to give up her seat on a segregated bus. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Enter your email address Subscribe Form error message goes here. Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm. A bus driver called police on March 2, 1955, to complain that two Black girls were sitting near two white girls in violation of segregation laws. One of the Black girls moved toward the rear when asked, a police report said, but Colvin refused and was arrested. She was 15 at the time. Colvin became a named plaintiff in the landmark lawsuit that outlawed racial segregation on Montgomery's buses. A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now By — Associated Press Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Claudette Colvin, whose 1955 arrest for refusing to give up her seat on a segregated Montgomery bus helped spark the modern civil rights movement, has died. She was 86. Her death was announced Tuesday by the Claudette Colvin Legacy Foundation. Ashley D. Roseboro of the organization confirmed she died in Texas. READ MORE: Eva Schloss, Holocaust survivor and stepsister of Anne Frank, dies at 96 Colvin was arrested months before Rosa Parks gained international fame before refusing to give up her seat on a segregated bus. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Enter your email address Subscribe Form error message goes here. Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm. A bus driver called police on March 2, 1955, to complain that two Black girls were sitting near two white girls in violation of segregation laws. One of the Black girls moved toward the rear when asked, a police report said, but Colvin refused and was arrested. She was 15 at the time. Colvin became a named plaintiff in the landmark lawsuit that outlawed racial segregation on Montgomery's buses. A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now