How Florida Impacted the Civil Rights Movement
Meet Seth Gaines!
Mr. Gaines drove a taxi during the time of the Tallahassee Bus Boycott. Once the boycott was over, one of the group's demands was for African Americans to be allowed to drive buses. Mr. Gaines then became the first African American to drive a bus on a regular route in the City of Tallahassee.
Meet Morris Thomas!
The image to the left shows Mr. Thomas sitting on a bus in Tallahassee in December 1956. H was visiting the city and had heard about a possible demonstration on the city's buses. However, he had not been notified that the demonstration was canceled.
This sign should look familiar! Look through the rest of the Tallahassee locations to see if you can see another sign that reads, "What we ask is simple, Impartial Service For All!"
Click the image above to return to the Heritage Walk Sidewalk!
The Tallahassee Bus Boycott
Just like the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the civil rights activists in Tallahassee boycotted the public transportation system May 1956 until the beginning of December 1956. This boycott began after two FAMU students were arrested for sitting beside a white woman on one of the public buses. During the boycott, many of the African Americans in Tallahassee carpooled to get to work, school, or other places in the city. Some of them were even arrested for setting up the car pool without proper legal documentation.