MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Today, the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) mourns the loss of civil rights pioneer Claudette Colvin. In 1955, Colvin was only 15 years old when she refused to give up her seat to a white passenger on a Montgomery city bus, leading to her arrest.
“This nation lost a civil rights giant today. Claudette Colvin’s courage lit the fire for a movement that would free all Alabamians and Americans from the woes of southern segregation,” said Tafeni English-Relf, Alabama state director, SPLC. “While we mourn her loss, we must remember her life, her love for helping those in need and her diligence in the fight for justice and equality.
“When Colvin was only a teenager, she had the might of a hundred lions. She will be remembered as a mother, a daughter of the South and a leader in a time of great pain and suffering. She lived as we all should live standing for equality, justice and freedom in the face of great trepidation. Her bravery paved the way for others to stand against segregation in Alabama and beyond.”
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About the Southern Poverty Law Center
The Southern Poverty Law Center is a catalyst for racial justice in the South and beyond, working in partnership with communities to dismantle white supremacy, strengthen intersectional movements and advance the human rights of all people. For more information, visit www.splcenter.org.