Now That’s Classy

I was a little curious how the plan to leave an empty seat in honor of Rosa Parks on every bus yesterday would turn out. Generally alright — except for one idiot who now has been publicly shamed:

Fiona Humphreys won’t move to the back of the bus – not even for Rosa Parks.

Told she was sitting in a symbolic seat reserved for Parks on city buses yesterday to honor the 50th anniversary of the day the civil rights legend refused to move to the back of a Montgomery, Ala., bus, Humphreys refused to get up.

The 55-year-old British tourist riding the M-1 bus said she knew of Parks, but added, “I think I’ve got a right to sit here.”

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority taped posters with a photograph of Parks on the first seat behind drivers on all city buses, asking passengers to leave them empty in her honor. Transit systems from around the country joined in the tribute.

More public shame from the Times:

In Jackson Heights, Queens, on a westbound Q66 at 90th Street and Northern Boulevard, a sign taped right behind the bus driver was repeatedly ignored.

After several people had sat in the front seat, Sergio Amicamo, 40, a construction worker from Jackson Heights, also chose to sit there. He was asked what he thought of the sign. Mr. Amicamo read it quickly, shuddered, then uttered a loud profanity in dismay. He scooted out of the seat.

“I didn’t realize it was there,” Mr. Amicamo said. “It’s history. It was a major event. It means freedom.”

Some riders on the same bus continued to sit in the front seat, even when they knew why it was supposed to remain empty.

Joanne Satalino, who is white and from Queens, said: “Oh, no, I ain’t giving mine up. There’s no place left to sit.”

When it was pointed out that there were empty seats nearby, Ms. Satalino said she would surrender the seat to a rider with a cane.