An era of bigotry, racism, and conformity has fostered a period of rebellion, protest, and activism since the 1960s. The African American civil rights movement gained massive support in the 1960s (1). The anti-war hippie movement followed soon after, attracting nationwide attention (2). Finally, gay rights activism grew significantly during the 1960s (3). The leaders who first gathered support for the cause primarily provided the momentum needed to successfully implement the legislative initiatives that each civil rights group called for and protested. The advances of African American rights during this movement would have been impossible without specific individuals who inspired thousands of people and acted as martyrs for the cause. On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks, a black woman, was arrested in Montgomery, Alabama, for refusing to give up her seat on the bus to a white passenger. Parks was arrested that day for breaking Jim Crow laws regulating racial interactions in the city and throughout the South. Black civil rights leaders and activists in Montgomery were motivated by Parks' act of defiance, allowing the city's African American community to successfully organize a boycott of Montgomery's segregated bus system (Textbook, page 822 ). The boycott put economic pressure on the bus company as most members of Montgomery's black community found other means of transportation for about a year. As a clear result of Rosa Park's act of rebellion against an unjust system, the Supreme Court declared public transportation segregation illegal in all states in 1956 (Notes, Lesson 2: Civil Rights Continued, 4/23/14) . The bus boycott also led to the creation of a new prominent leader in… middle of paper… movements for social change were led by influential figures who attracted attention and support from across the nation. The African American, anti-war, and gay movements have all been great examples of how specific leaders advocating for change are vital and beneficial to the cause. President Obama is a current example of how a major figure can actively support a commitment, as he did by announcing support for gay marriage in 2012. By being the first sitting president to do so, Obama symbolized progress in the rights movement gay. (CNN.com, “Obama Announces Support for Gay Marriage,” 2012). President Obama recently signed an executive order to prevent discrimination in the workplace, and in doing so, Obama is expressing his commitment to empowering women in the workplace (Whitehouse.gov, “Taking Action in Honor of Equal Pay Day”, 4/8/14).