Metro News Release

For immediate release: December 22, 2008

Metro to participate in inaugural parade

Historic Rosa Parks Metrobus will be in inaugural parade

Metro’s historic Rosa Parks bus will participate the in 56th presidential inaugural parade on Jan. 20.

Almost 1,400 organizations have applied to participate in the inaugural parade, which will feature bands, military regiments and tumblers to name a few.

The 1957 former Maryland Transit Administration GMC bus was donated to Metro in 1990 and restored for Metro’s 30th anniversary in 2003. The transit agency dedicated the bus to the life and legacy of civil rights activist Rosa Parks in December 2005. The bus features a decal on the exterior that pictures Parks seated and an inscription that reads: “It All Started on a Bus; Rosa Parks; 1913-2005; The Mother of the Civil Rights Movement.” Inside the bus, there is a silhouetted image of Parks on a window and a plaque.

Parks’ refusal to give up her seat on a Montgomery, AL, city bus, in 1955 sparked the civil rights movement.

The Rosa Parks bus has been driven in the last three presidential inaugural parades and other special events throughout the region. The bus also was featured in the 1982 movie "Diner,” which was filmed in Baltimore.

Metro also is encouraging people to sign up for special e-alerts, dedicated to the Inauguration. They can do so on Metro’s Web site at http://www.wmata.com/inauguration. E-alerts will be issued when Metro has news relating to service throughout Inauguration weekend.

News release issued at 11:34 am, December 22, 2008.