From Newsgroup: comp.sys.mac.advocacy
"Outrage as New York's MTA introduces RESERVED bus seat in memory of Rosa Parks: 'This is crazy'"
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https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15532161/NYC-MTA-Rosa-Parks- bus-reserved-black-history-month.html>
"New York City's Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) is facing backlash
for reserving a bus seat to honor Rosa Parks during Black History Month.
More than 4,000 people chimed in on an Instagram post from the MTA about
the tribute to civil rights icon Parks.
Parks famously refused to give up her bus seat to a white woman in
segregated Montgomery, Alabama, in December 1955.
Her arrest for the act of protest sparked a 381-day bus strike - a
significant turning point in the Civil Rights Movement.
The MTA celebrated her legacy by marking a seat on one of the city's
busybuses with a yellow 'RESERVED' sign.
A massive cardboard portrait of the activist has also been propped up on
the seat.
'To commemorate Transit Equity Day and Black History Month, a seat has
been reserved today to honor the legacy of Rosa Parks,' the MTA wrote on Wednesday, which was Parks' birthday.
'Each and every day, weAre committed to providing accessible and
equitable transit for all.'
But the gesture did not go over well with many Big Apple residents. "
"'[Not going to lie] we love Rosa but this is crazy,' one man reacted
with a laughing face emoji.
'Wow, making a difference with this one guys,' another sarcastically
chimed in. Someone said the memorial was 'like a parody skit.'
'Don't piss me off,' a man who was less than pleased with the exhibit
said.
'How about you lower the fare to commemorate her legacy,' someone added, referencing the recent increase in transit fares despite Mayor Zohran Mamdani's pledge to make buses across the city free.
'You dead a** bro? Make the fare $2.75 again. We need that not a
preoccupied seat,' someone demanded. Standard bus fares increased from
$2.90 to $3.00, while express bus fares increased from $7.00 to $ 7.25.
'How much of the MTA budget went into this?' someone asked.
'This is not it,' one user asserted. 'Sentiment might be right-headed,
but no one who actually rides the bus would have cosigned this. C'mon
guys @MTA.'
A stock image of a NYC MTA bus is seen above
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A stock image of a NYC MTA bus is seen above
'CouldnAt you at least have cleaned the bus for her,' someone asked, referencing the traces of snow salt and dirt visible on the floor of the
bus.
Sar, an 18-year-old from the Bronx, bluntly commented: '[Somebody sittin
on that anyways [not going to lie].'
Sar later told the Daily Mail he thought the tribute was a 'great idea'
in theory but not so much in practice.
'The buses are unbelievably packed and people want to sit down, and itAs
New York, people are going to sit down anyways so I donAt think itAll be appreciated properly,' he said.
'The gesture itself was fine, however itAs taking away a seat that a
disabled person or a pregnant woman or someone who had a long day at work could have used.'
Several viewers agreed that the display could be taking away a seat from someone who needs it, but others did not share that concern.
'Oh my god bruh itAs one seat like goddamn, itAs never that big of a
deal. They could put a pillar there, and y'all wouldnAt complain this
much,' one man replied to the criticism.
Despite the outrage and mockery, people also applauded the MTA's efforts. Users shared emojis of clapping hands and hearts to show their support.
Claudette Colvin refused to give up her seat on a bus nine months before
Parks did
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Claudette Colvin refused to give up her seat on a bus nine months before
Parks did
An MTA display for Parks from last year is seen above
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An MTA display for Parks from last year is seen above
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But other skeptics said the MTA should also honor other names of the
Civil Rights Movement, such as Claudette Colvin.
Colvin was 15 years old and pregnant when she refused to give up her seat
on a bus about nine months before Parks did. She recently passed away on January 13 aged 86.
Parks' birthday was federally recognized as Transit Equity Day in 2021 by
Pete Buttigieg, then the Transportation Secretary.
But the MTA and other bus systems across the nation have honored Parks -
who died at 92 in October 2005 - through similar displays since at least
2005, according to reports at the time.
Metros including Washington DC, Los Angeles and Portland, Oregon, even
offer free bus rides on the anniversary.
The Daily Mail has contacted the MTA for comment"
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