CATS celebrates Juneteenth, commemorates Baton Rouge bus boycott

For Immediate Release

Baton Rouge, LA_The Capital Area Transit System (CATS) hosted its first Juneteenth celebration on Friday, June 19th. The event also commemorated the 67th anniversary of the Baton Rouge bus boycott.

East Baton Rouge Parish Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome headlined a group of speakers who highlighted the significance of both the Juneteenth and bus boycotts events.

Mayor Broome was followed by Baker Mayor Darnell Waites, as well as Southern University Law School Professor Chancellor John Pierre, Build Baton Rouge President and CEO Chris Tyson, Metro Council Member District 5 and CATS Board Vice President Erika Green, and other distinguished guests.

“We are happy to be marking the anniversary of the 1953 Baton Rouge bus boycott, that ultimately served as a blueprint for the Montgomery bus boycott and spearheaded the Civil Rights movement in the United States,” said CATS CEO Bill Deville.  “Now more than ever, we are committed to being a leader in diversity and inclusion, and the Juneteenth celebration is a great way for us to celebrate this important day and to educate others on its significance,” Deville continued.

More information about CATS can be found by visiting www.brcats.com and on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.