Transit Equity Day

Transit Equity Day featured U.S. Representatives Jesús G. “Chuy” García and Robin Kelly with community leaders who spoke on the critical nature of transit to the equity of the Chicago region as we recover from the COVID crisis.

For the past four years on February 4, a network of transit rider unions, community organizations, environmental groups, and labor unions have organized Transit Equity Day – a national day of action to commemorate the birthday of Rosa Parks by declaring that public transit is a civil right. Rosa Parks is an iconic figure of the Civil Rights era who bravely chose the tactic of refusing to give up her seat on the bus to demand an end to segregation in the Montgomery, Alabama, transit system. Transit Equity Day highlights Rosa Parks’ act of resistance, and connects it to the right of all people and communities today to have high-quality public transportation, run on clean, renewable energy.

Speakers: 

• Jesús G. “Chuy” García, U.S. Representative for Illinois’ 4th District
• Robin Kelly, U.S. Representative for Illinois’ 2nd District
• Andrea Reed, Executive Director, Greater Roseland Chamber of Commerce, Coalition for a Better Metra Electric
• Keith Hill, President, Amalgamated Transit Union Local 241
• Zair Menjivar, Belmont Cragin Youth Leadership Council, Northwest Side Housing Center

Moderator:

• Lynda Lopez, Advocacy Manager, Active Transportation Alliance