Bloomington Transit Celebrates Rosa Parks’ Birthday with Program and Free Ride Day

Bloomington, Ind. - On Saturday, February 3, Bloomington Transit invites the public to join in a celebration of Rosa Parks’ 105th birthday as part of Bloomington’s Black History Month and Bicentennial Celebrations. The program, from 1:00-2:00 p.m. at the Downtown Transit Center (301 S. Walnut), will highlight civil rights activist Rosa Parks’ contributions to ending bus segregation and insuring African-American civil rights with her acts of resilience and courage.

Local actress and historian Gladys DeVane will portray Rosa Parks at the event. Following DeVane’s (in character as Parks) arrival at the Downtown Transit Center at 1:00 p.m. on the #3 Highland Village bus, a special presentation by Resilience Productions of She Changed the Course of History: The Rosa Parks Story, written and performed by Gladys DeVane, narrated by Liz Mitchell, and directed by Danielle Bruce, will be offered. The event will continue with brief remarks by Mayor John Hamilton and Bloomington Common Council Member Jim Sims, who also serves as President of the Monroe County Chapter of the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People).  Following the program, refreshments, photo opportunities with DeVane as Parks, and an exhibit of Jim Crow artifacts from the collection of Elizabeth Mitchell are planned.

To encourage the use of Bloomington Transit and to celebrate Rosa Parks’ birthday, bus rides will be free all day on fixed route and BT Access service on Saturday, February 3.

For questions or for more information regarding this event, please contact Lew May at 812-332-5688.

###