1956 – Claudette Colvin’s Charges Dropped

On June 3, 1956, civil rights pioneer Claudette Colvin had the final charges against her dropped, more than a year after she refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery bus—nine months before Rosa Parks\’ historic protest. At just 15 years old, Colvin had been arrested and charged with assault and violating segregation laws. Though she played a vital role in the lawsuit Browder v. Gayle, which ultimately led to the end of bus segregation in Montgomery, her contributions were largely overshadowed. On this date, the legal system quietly erased the final obstacle to her freedom, but not her courage. Today, June 3 serves as a moment to lift up Colvin’s legacy as one of the youngest and boldest figures in the civil rights movement—proof that age is no barrier to resistance.