SEPTA honors civil rights icon who helped desegregate transit long before Rosa Parks

Caroline Rebecca LeCount's efforts to desegregate Philadelphia's public transit system in the 1860s paved the way for Rosa Parks' famous stand decades later.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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Long before Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on an Alabama bus, Caroline Rebecca LeCount made a similar stand in Philadelphia to desegregate the city's public transit system. As part of its recognition of Black History Month, SEPTA honored LeCount's life and courage on Wednesday, highlighting her work as a civil rights advocate and educator who fought to ensure equal access to transportation.

Why it matters

LeCount's activism in the 1860s laid the groundwork for the civil rights movement, including Rosa Parks' famous bus boycott. Her work to desegregate Philadelphia's streetcars and hold transit leaders accountable underscores the importance of equal access to public transportation as a means of connecting individuals to jobs, education, and opportunity.

The details

As a distinguished student at the Institute for Colored Youth and the first Black woman in the Philadelphia area to pass the city's teacher exam, LeCount was a civil rights advocate of many talents. After a law was passed making it illegal to segregate streetcars throughout Pennsylvania, LeCount continued to hold leaders and conductors accountable, personally ensuring they were fined for refusing service to Black riders. LeCount organized an act of civil disobedience, leading a group of women to board segregated streetcars. She also advocated and lobbied for equal transit rights at the state level, which led to the passage of a new bill in 1867 banning discrimination on public transit systems.

  • In the early 1860s, streetcars in Philadelphia refused service to Black riders.
  • In 1867, the state of Pennsylvania passed a new bill banning discrimination on public transit systems.
  • In 2024, the city of Philadelphia renamed Taney Street to LeCount Street to honor her legacy.

The players

Caroline Rebecca LeCount

A civil rights advocate and educator who fought to desegregate Philadelphia's public transit system in the 1860s, predating Rosa Parks' famous bus boycott.

Octavius Catto

LeCount's fiancé, who advocated and lobbied for equal transit rights at the state level alongside LeCount.

Scott Sauer

SEPTA's General Manager, who spoke about the parallels between LeCount's work and that of Rosa Parks.

Tamla Ginyard

SEPTA's Culture and Belonging Council President, who discussed the historical context of segregation on Philadelphia's streetcars.

Marianne McQuaid

A senior designer on Maps & Schedules with SEPTA, who compared LeCount's work to that of Rosa Parks.

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What they’re saying

“Caroline Lecount's work had many parallels to that of Rosa Parks, except that her efforts in 1867 were centered on streetcars that were still powered by horses.”

— Scott Sauer, SEPTA General Manager (billypenn.com)

“At the time, Philadelphia's streetcars were segregated, and Black passengers were often denied service or forced off cars.”

— Tamla Ginyard, SEPTA Culture and Belonging Council President (billypenn.com)

“It has been suggested that Caroline LeCount was the Rosa Parks of her time, but since Caroline came before Rosa, I like to think that Rosa Parks was the Caroline LeCount of her time.”

— Marianne McQuaid, SEPTA Senior Designer on Maps & Schedules (billypenn.com)

What’s next

SEPTA plans to continue honoring LeCount's legacy and highlighting her role in the civil rights movement through educational initiatives and community events.

The takeaway

Caroline Rebecca LeCount's courageous stand against segregation on Philadelphia's public transit system decades before Rosa Parks' famous bus boycott serves as a powerful reminder of the long history of the fight for civil rights and equal access to transportation. Her legacy continues to inspire SEPTA's efforts to build a more inclusive and equitable public transit system.