By Eileen Buckley
Buffalo, NY – The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority paid special tribute to Rosa Parks Thursday.
It was 50-years ago when Parks refused to give up her seat to a white passenger on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama.
In Buffalo, those who take public transportation say they are grateful for her brave action against segregation.
"I'm grateful, being an African-American, that she did this. To be able to ride the bus and to sit anywhere on the bus. It is just so beautiful, said Sharon Hardaway."
Hardaway, who lives in Buffalo, stood outside the NFTA's downtown bus station on North Division. She watched next to 1960's style bus, that once road the streets of Buffalo, was used Thursday to help the city step back in time, and remember when Rosa Parks stood up for African-Americans and civil rights.
Buffalo's NACP president Frank Messiah said Americans must keep alive what happened 50-years ago.
"That concept of fighting back, standing up for your rights in this democratic country led to the Civil Rights Act of 1964," said Messiah. "That made it possible for women and other groups of people to become active in this society."
Union members of the SEIU Local 1199 joined the NFTA in honoring Parks. They rode in the front rows of buses in the Buffalo Niagara region.
Denise Eberett, a union member, said it is important to remind younger generations about a time when African-Americans lacked basic civil rights.
"It is a special day for everyone. Mrs. Parks has past on, but I'm sure she would be honored that this is happening in her memory," said Eberett.
Parks is known as the "mother of the Civil Rights movement." 26-year old Datra Hairston of Buffalo said learned about Rosa Parks in school.
"She is just a great woman who made a positive impact on the entire world, because she got sick and tired of being pushed around, by not being able to sit where she wanted to on the bus," said Hairston.
Hariston thanks Rosa Parks for allowing her and other African-Americans the simply freedom to sit anywhere on a bus.