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Mayor Barbara Lee Mourns Civil Rights Pioneer Claudette Colvin, Whose Courage at 15 Helped End Bus Segregation

Date:

January 13, 2026

News From:

Office of the Mayor

Mayor Barbara Lee Mourns Civil Rights Pioneer Claudette Colvin, Whose Courage at 15 Helped End Bus Segregation

"Today we mourn the passing of Claudette Colvin, and my deepest condolences go out to her family and loved ones. She was one of the unsung heroes of the civil rights movement, whose courage at just 15 years old helped spark a revolution. When she refused to surrender her seat on a Montgomery bus in 1955, she became a plaintiff in the landmark legal case that ended bus segregation in America. She provided a blueprint for the struggle for equality, even as history too often overlooked her contributions. We owe her a debt of gratitude that can never be fully repaid, and we honor her extraordinary legacy."

- Mayor Barbara Lee

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