The event that marked the emergence of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States is often cited as the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955, sparked by Rosa Parks' refusal to give up her bus seat to a white passenger. This act of defiance galvanized the African American community and led to a year-long boycott of the city's buses, aiming to end racial segregation. The boycott attracted national attention and garnered support from civil rights organizations, leading to legal challenges against segregation laws. It also positioned leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. at the forefront of the movement, igniting a broader struggle for civil rights.