Syracuse NY – In accordance with a new law supported by New York State Senator John A. DeFrancisco, and in honor of the courageous life of Rosa Parks, the Central New York Regional Transportation Authority is encouraging its customers to reserve a seat on all of its buses on Wednesday February 4, 2009.  The CNYRTA will also place a placard and window sticker near a seat behind the bus driver on all of its buses throughout Onondaga, Oswego, Cayuga, and Oneida counties to mark Rosa Parks Day.
    
Rosa Parks was a model of courage and leadership, and by encouraging customers to leave the seat empty, the CNYRTA is recognizing the inspirational life of the Civil Rights leader.
    
Rosa Parks is remembered for the brave stand she took on December 1, 1955 when she refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery, Alabama bus in protest of racial segregation. Her act of courage started the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which was one of the largest movements in the fight against racial segregation.