Evening star., 1956-12-21
Bus Ban Ends
In Montgomery

R.-Racial integration on buses
started smoothly in Montgomery
today. bringing to a dramatic
close a tradition in public trans
portation dating back for dec
AIDES.
4 Negroes. some of whom had
refused to ride segregated city
buses for more than a year as
part of a mass boycott move
ment. boarded the buses calmly
taking seats where they chose.
Under the segregated pattern
Negroes were required to sit in
the rear, white passengers oc-
cupied seats toward the front
Segregation laws were knocked
out by United States Supreme
Court decision which went into
effect here yesterday.
Some Negroes took front seats
today and white passengers sat
behind them.
Ihere were no reports of vio-
lence, but four carloads of white
men and others in a pickup truck
stayed close to a downtown bus
stop with the occupants paying
close attention to the transition
One Car Gives Signal
Once the white men got out
and conferred on a street corner.
Later one of the cars drove
away at a signal from three
heavy-set white men in another
car which paused at the bus stop
and drove on.
One unidentified white man,
watching a Negro board a bus
Shouted to photographers to go
ahead and get a picture. Negroes
standing nearby let the remark
Igo unchallenged. They had
been coached by their leaders
Ito refrain from violence ano to
ignore such incidents.
1 Negro ministers rode the
buses. too, to set an example
for their people. Three of the
clergymen-the Rev. M. L. King
jr.; the Rev. Ralph D. Aber-
nathy and the Rev. w. j
Powell-said bus drivers were
exceptionally" courteous. The
first two commented after
ahghting from a bus downtown
THAT was mighty good ride
1t was a great ride
Peaceful Transition Sought
Negro spokesman had an.
nounced earlier that an effort
: would be made to have a min.
lister or Negro civic leader or
each bus during the first few
days Of the transition to integra-
tion. They said they hoped II
would help prevent possible
violence.
The United States Supreme
Court decision outlawing bus
segregation in this deep South
city of about 10000 went intc
effect yesterday. but the Negroes
waited until today TO return tc
the buses.
One of the first Negro passen-
gers as the buses left downtown
Montgomery at the start OF their
runs today was 64-year-old Joe
Thomas. a pressroom employe
of the Montgomery Advertiser
who said he has walked 21a miles
home from work each morning
since the boycott started He
was the only passenger on the
bus.
Drivers were notified last night
that segregation was ended.
The Negroes ended their boy
colt one year and l6 days after
it began. Their spokesman, the
Rev. Mr.. King, warned the
church meetings that Negroes
must remain calm and give no
excuse for violence. Violence
must not come from any OF us,"
he said.
About $500 persons attended
the two meetings. The crowds
were instructed how TO conduct
themselves in riding integrated
buses.
The Rev. S. s. seay urged
one Of the crowds to be sure
TO ride buses today. IF you've
been riding with your neighbor,
thank him and get on the bus, /"
he said.
The boycott began December S.
1855. in protest to the fining Of
a Negro seamstress for refusing
70 move 10 the rear OF a bus.
Montgomery's M population Of
about 10000 includes about 50,-
900 Negroes.
A list Of suggestions" made In
leaflets distributed Wednesday
was read at the meetings. One