Community Corner
Freedom Bus Rides the East Bay
"America's civil rights movement was largely inspired by a boycott on a public bus, so it's fitting as a public bus company that we're involved in some effort to promote the understanding of the role public transit played."
Bay City News
An AC Transit bus featuring student artwork is touring three East Bay schools today in honor of an event that helped spark the civil rights movement.
The "Freedom Bus," which features art depicting the 1955 Montgomery, Ala., bus boycott inspired by Rosa Parks, is meant to foster teaching and understanding of the civil rights movement through art, AC Transit officials said.
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It will be traversing the East Bay between 10:50 a.m. and 4 p.m.
"America's civil rights movement was largely inspired by a boycott on a public bus," AC Transit spokesman Clarence Johnson said. "So it's fitting as a public bus company that we're involved in some effort to promote the understanding of the role public transit played."
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Artwork done by Berkeley High School students was transposed onto the side of the bus using an adhesive wrap, Johnson said. Prize-winning student art is also featured inside the bus.
It was scheduled to visit Berkeley High School at 1980 Allston Way from 10:50 a.m. to 11:25 a.m.; the Juvenile Justice Center at 2500 Fairmont Drive in San Leandro from 1 p.m. to 2:20 p.m.; and Lorin Eden Elementary at 27790 Portsmouth Ave. in Hayward from 3:15 p.m. to 4 p.m.
The Freedom Bus was unveiled last month during a community celebration attended by nearly 200 people, according to AC Transit.
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