My resisting being mistreated on the bus did not begin with that particular arrest…I did a lot of walking in Montgomery.

People always say that I didn’t give up my seat because I was tired, but that isn’t true. No, the only tired I was, was tired of giving in.

Why do you all push us around?

I had felt for a long time, that if I was ever told to get up so a white person could sit, that I would refuse to do so.

There is work to do; that is why I cannot stop or sit still. As long as a child needs help, as long as people are not free, there will be work to do. As long as an elderly person is attacked or in need of support, there is work to do. As long as we have bigotry and crime, we have work to do.

My resisting being mistreated on the bus did not begin with that particular arrest…I did a lot of walking in Montgomery.

I have learned over the years that when one's mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be done does away with fear.