As I recall she sparked a boycott of the transit system by black riders that almost bankrupted it. I was too young at the time to participate in the civil rights movement. I later was involved, but it was a dangerous time in the Southern States for those "Northern Agitators" who were upsetting the system. 

I recall the "Freedom Riders" who borded busses in the Northern States bound for the South. When they had crossed into the Southern States they were told to sit in the back of the bus. They refused. It was a dangerous decision because it invoked the local police. The police chief could easily have been a member of the Klan, and you could easily disappear. Southern justice did not question such things at that time. Three civil rights workers dissapeared in mississippi , and later were discovered dead.  You may recall a movie called "Mississippi Burning". It is based on a true history.    

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypCv0SkbrRA

This is the type of mentality with which you were dealing at the time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRBM--tCRcs

Rosa Parks' courage was later picked up by the non-violent protests of Dr. King and the more militant beliefs of Malcom X.