INVESTIGATE:

Why did the boycott of Montgomery's buses succeed? (Read each source below, then answer the questions in the notebook. Ask your teacher for an inquiry organizer worksheet to help you think about the ways that the sources support and contradict each other.)

SOURCES:

READ: Police Report

Head Note: The police who arrested Rosa Parks filled out this official report about the arrest.

Date 12-1-1955

Complainant: J.F. Blake (wm)

Address: 2 7 No. Lewis St. ....

Offense: Misc. ....

Date and Time Offense Committed: 12-1-55 6:06 pm

Place of Occurrence: In Front of Empire Theatre (On Montgomery Street) ....


We received a call upon arrival the bus operator said he had a colored female sitting in the white section of the bus, and would not move back.

We (Day & Mixon) also saw her.

The bus operator signed a warrant for her. Rosa Parks, (cf) 634 Cleveland Boul.

Rosa Parks (cf) was charged with chapter 6 section 11 of the Montgomery City Code.


Warrant #14254


Officers: F.B. Day, D.W. Mixon

Division: Patrol

Time: 7:00 pm

Source: Police Department, City of Montgomery. December 1, 1955.

USE THE NOTEBOOK (instructions):

Vocabulary

These definitions should help with reading comprehension.

  • warrant: a written authorization to carry out an arrest
  • police report: an official record filed by police about each incident they handle.
  • (cf): "colored female"
  • (wm): "white male"
  • complainant: a person who makes a formal accusation against another

Parks Police Report

Image of the police report generated when Rosa Parks was arrested on December 1, 1955.

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