Home   Calendar   Holidays   United States   Rosa Parks Day
Flag for USA

Rosa Parks Day 2024 in the United States

Rosa Parks Day is an American observance to honor civil rights activist Rosa Parks, who was known for refusing to give up her seat on a bus.

Is Rosa Parks Day a Public Holiday?

This is not a public holiday. Government and public offices, businesses, and schools are not closed on this day but may hold special events and outreach programs to commemorate the annual observance.

The "Rosa Parks" bus is an historic symbol of the struggle for equality.

©iStockphoto.com/Coast-to-Coast

It is observed in California and Missouri on February 4 and Alabama and Ohio on December 1.

Celebrate Rosa Parks Day

Rosa Parks Day promotes equal opportunities, civil rights, and fairness across communities in the U.S. Church leaders, politicians, and organizational leaders unite in states like California and Ohio to promote the day with a range of events and activities.

Many schools have classroom activities that focus on Rosa Parks' struggles for equality and achievements against discrimination.

Public Life

Rosa Parks Day is an observance and not a public holiday in the U.S.

About Rosa Parks

On December 1, 1955, African American seamstress Rosa Parks was travelling in a Montgomery City bus when the bus driver asked her to vacate her seat for a white man. The driver's request was standard practice of racial segregation in buses at the time. Rosa Parks refused to leave her seat on the grounds of fairness, freedom and equality. As a result, she was arrested and convicted of violating the laws of segregation, known as the "Jim Crow" laws. She appealed her conviction and formally challenged the legality of segregation. At the same time, civil rights activists, including Martin Luther King Jr, boycotted the Montgomery bus system.

The boycott lasted for 381 days, into December 1956, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the segregation law was unconstitutional and the Montgomery buses should be integrated. This boycott kick-started other civil rights protests throughout the U.S. Over the years, the Rosa Parks bus has become a symbol of the fight for equal rights. It has been fully restored and is now displayed in the Henry Ford Museum. Rosa Parks' Day, on February 4, is also known as the Day of Courage.

Rosa Parks Day Observances

YearWeekdayDateNameHoliday TypeArea
2019MonFeb 4Rosa Parks DayState ObservanceNew York
2019MonFeb 4Rosa Parks DayLocal observanceCalifornia, Missouri
2019SunDec 1Rosa Parks DayState ObservanceAlabama
2019SunDec 1Rosa Parks DayLocal observanceOhio
2020TueFeb 4Rosa Parks DayState ObservanceNew York
2020TueFeb 4Rosa Parks DayLocal observanceCalifornia, Missouri
2020TueDec 1Rosa Parks DayState ObservanceAlabama
2020TueDec 1Rosa Parks DayLocal observanceOhio
2021ThuFeb 4Rosa Parks DayState ObservanceNew York
2021ThuFeb 4Rosa Parks DayLocal observanceCalifornia, Missouri
2021WedDec 1Rosa Parks DayLocal observanceOhio
2021WedDec 1Rosa Parks DayState ObservanceAlabama
2022FriFeb 4Rosa Parks DayLocal observanceCalifornia, Missouri
2022FriFeb 4Rosa Parks DayState ObservanceNew York
2022ThuDec 1Rosa Parks DayLocal observanceOhio
2022ThuDec 1Rosa Parks DayState ObservanceAlabama
2023SatFeb 4Rosa Parks DayLocal observanceCalifornia, Missouri
2023SatFeb 4Rosa Parks DayState ObservanceNew York
2023FriDec 1Rosa Parks DayLocal observanceOhio
2023FriDec 1Rosa Parks DayState ObservanceAlabama
2024SunFeb 4Rosa Parks DayLocal observanceCalifornia, Missouri
2024SunFeb 4Rosa Parks DayState ObservanceNew York
2024SunDec 1Rosa Parks DayLocal observanceOhio
2024SunDec 1Rosa Parks DayState ObservanceAlabama
2025TueFeb 4Rosa Parks DayLocal observanceCalifornia, Missouri
2025TueFeb 4Rosa Parks DayState ObservanceNew York
2025MonDec 1Rosa Parks DayState ObservanceAlabama
2025MonDec 1Rosa Parks DayLocal observanceOhio
2026WedFeb 4Rosa Parks DayState ObservanceNew York
2026WedFeb 4Rosa Parks DayLocal observanceCalifornia, Missouri
2026TueDec 1Rosa Parks DayLocal observanceOhio
2026TueDec 1Rosa Parks DayState ObservanceAlabama
2027ThuFeb 4Rosa Parks DayLocal observanceCalifornia, Missouri
2027ThuFeb 4Rosa Parks DayState ObservanceNew York
2027WedDec 1Rosa Parks DayState ObservanceAlabama
2027WedDec 1Rosa Parks DayLocal observanceOhio
2028FriFeb 4Rosa Parks DayState ObservanceNew York
2028FriFeb 4Rosa Parks DayLocal observanceCalifornia, Missouri
2028FriDec 1Rosa Parks DayLocal observanceOhio
2028FriDec 1Rosa Parks DayState ObservanceAlabama
2029SunFeb 4Rosa Parks DayLocal observanceCalifornia, Missouri
2029SunFeb 4Rosa Parks DayState ObservanceNew York
2029SatDec 1Rosa Parks DayState ObservanceAlabama
2029SatDec 1Rosa Parks DayLocal observanceOhio

While we diligently research and update our holiday dates, some of the information in the table above may be preliminary. If you find an error, please let us know.