Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day celebrates Ruby Bridges, a civil rights icon who, at the age of six, became the first African American child to desegregate an all-white elementary school in the South. Her courage in walking through a hostile crowd every day for a year to attend William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans, is commemorated every year by school children across the U.S. emphasizing the importance of safe routes to school and community building and highlighting the continued fight for equal education and opportunity.

On Thursday, November 14, the 64th anniversary of Ruby’s initial walk to school will be celebrated by children across Benicia as they walk to school in remembrance of this important stage in our nation’s history. 

Get Ready to Walk! Children and families are invited to a special event at the Benicia Public Library on Tuesday, November 12th from 4pm to 6pm to learn more about Ruby Bridges and prepare for the Walk to School event later in the week. 

Join us for snacks, videos, stories, and activities. The Library will provide materials to make signs you can carry for your walk to school that share inspirational messages promoting and celebrating diversity, inclusion, and equality.