The bus drivers did not like the new rules and did not comply with them.
In June, Jemison sat in a seat that had formerly been reserved for white passengers; when the bus driver asked him to move, he refused. The driver drove to a police station, but the police refused to arrest him because he had not broken the law.
The bus drivers said that they didn’t want to be in the position of having to ask people to move to keep the races segregated. They preferred that there be designated seating. They also claimed that Ordinance 222 contradicted the state law that required separate compartments for races. On Monday, June 15, 1953, the bus drivers went on strike.
– “Prelude to the Baton Rouge Bus Boycott
February 11, 1953,”
Molly Manson
How did bus drivers respond to the new rules? Check all that apply.
They refused to follow the new rules.
They followed the rules even though they disliked them.
They complained about the idea of reserved seating.
They did not want to ask passengers to change their seats.
They went on strike to fight the new rules.
