From 1955 until 1956, african american citizens in montgomery, alabama, refused to ride on city buses. african americans chose not to ride the buses as a way to protest segregation and the unequal treatment of minorities. they hoped that by boycotting the buses, politicians and government officials would change public policies concerning african americans. eventually, the supreme court decided that the laws in alabama that forced african americans to give up their seats to white passengers were unconstitutional.