Claudette Colvin, civil rights pioneer who refused to give up her seat in 1955, has died at 83—months before Rosa Parks made history.
Claudette Colvin, a civil rights pioneer who refused to give up her bus seat in Montgomery in 1955, has died at age 86. Her act of defiance predates Rosa Parks and contributed to the landmark lawsuit that ended segregation on public transportation in the US. Her legacy was recognized late in life.