Congressman Don Davis has introduced a bill, H.R. 1377, to award Sarah Keys Evans the Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of her pivotal role in the civil rights movement and as a trailblazer for racial equality.  

"I am honored to introduce this bill to ensure that Sarah Keys Evans is no longer a hidden figure in our history," said Davis. "Through this bill, we recognize and celebrate this North Carolina trailblazer's profound impact on the civil rights movement. On the last day of Black History Month, and the eve of Women’s History Month, we want to pay homage to this remarkable legend.”

In 1952, Evans, a private first class in the Women's Army Corps, traveled by bus from Trenton, New Jersey, to Washington, North Carolina. 

Upon reaching Roanoke Rapids, a new driver boarded and demanded that PFC Keys give up her seat to a white passenger. 

Despite the driver's demand, she refused to move, one that Davis called a courageous act that led to her arrest and one he called a critical moment in the fight against segregation before the more widely recognized case of Rosa Parks.

Though the U.S. Supreme Court ruled segregation on interstate buses unconstitutional in 1946, local authorities continued to enforce discriminatory practices. 

After two cases before the Interstate Commerce Commission, the commission ruled in favor of Evans. The ruling stated that segregation on interstate buses violated the Interstate Commerce Act.

“Evans passed away on November 16, 2023, but her legacy lives in eastern North Carolina and American history,” Davis said. “The medal would symbolize the civil rights struggle driven by individuals like Evans. Her resistance was crucial in challenging racial injustice, reminding us that progress is made by those who refuse to accept the world as it is and instead work to create the world as it should be.”

The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest civilian honor the United States Congress bestows.