New York Tribune described what happened next: “She got upon one of the Company's cars…
on the Sabbath, to ride to church. The conductor undertook to get her off, first alleging the car
was full; when that was shown to be false, he pretended the other passengers were displeased
at her presence; but (when) she insisted on her rights, he took hold of her by force to expel her.
She resisted.”
The outraged Jennings told the conductor she was “a respectable person, born and raised in
this city,” calling him “a good-for-nothing, impudent fellow for insulting decent persons while on
their way to church.”
The Tribune picks up the story from there: “The conductor got her down on the platform,
jammed her bonnet, soiled her dress and injured her person. Quite a crowd gathered, but she
effectually resisted. Finally, after the car had gone on further, with the aid of a policeman they
succeeded in removing her.”
This would not be the end of it for, like Rosa Parks, Jennings' behavior was no impetuous act of
resistance. “Jennings was well connected,” says Williams. “Her father was an important
businessman and community leader with ties to the two major black churches in the city.” Not
satisfied with the massive rally that took place the following day at her church, Elizabeth Jennings
hired the law firm of Culver, Parker & Arthur and took the Third Avenue Railway Company to court.
In a classic “who knew?” situation, Jennings was represented by a 24-year-old lawyer named
Chester A. Arthur… yes, he who would go on to become the 21st president upon the death of
on the Sabbath, to ride to church. The conductor undertook to get her off, first alleging the car
was full; when that was shown to be false, he pretended the other passengers were displeased
at her presence; but (when) she insisted on her rights, he took hold of her by force to expel her.
She resisted.”
The outraged Jennings told the conductor she was “a respectable person, born and raised in
this city,” calling him “a good-for-nothing, impudent fellow for insulting decent persons while on
their way to church.”
The Tribune picks up the story from there: “The conductor got her down on the platform,
jammed her bonnet, soiled her dress and injured her person. Quite a crowd gathered, but she
effectually resisted. Finally, after the car had gone on further, with the aid of a policeman they
succeeded in removing her.”
This would not be the end of it for, like Rosa Parks, Jennings' behavior was no impetuous act of
resistance. “Jennings was well connected,” says Williams. “Her father was an important
businessman and community leader with ties to the two major black churches in the city.” Not
satisfied with the massive rally that took place the following day at her church, Elizabeth Jennings
hired the law firm of Culver, Parker & Arthur and took the Third Avenue Railway Company to court.
In a classic “who knew?” situation, Jennings was represented by a 24-year-old lawyer named
Chester A. Arthur… yes, he who would go on to become the 21st president upon the death of
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