The actions of a teenager who refused to leave a bus seat in a segregated United States will be celebrated with presentations and music on Monday.

Members of the public have been invited to the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity to recognise Claudette Colvin, who, aged 15, refused to give up her seat for a White woman in Montgomery, Alabama, 70 years ago.

Bermuda’s buses will also operate the entire day with their headlights on in recognition of Ms Colvin and other teenagers who “let their lights shine” and made a difference in their communities.

Ms Colvin was arrested on March 2, 1955, for disturbing the peace after she refused to give up her seat on a crowded bus.

Her case became one of the first to challenge segregation of public transport as unconstitutional.

The incident happened nine months before Rosa Parks took a similar action.

It is widely recognised among historians, however, that Ms Colvin’s case was not publicised by civil rights activists because she was unmarried and pregnant during her trial.

Glenn Fubler, the organiser of the observance on Monday, said that the cathedral celebration would also honour Bermudians David Wingate and Clyde Best.

Dr Wingate, aged 15, was one of three people who rediscovered the cahow on Castle Harbour in 1951.

Mr Best became a star striker for Bermuda’s National Football Team when he was 16 and helped the team win the silver medal at the 1967 Pan Am Games.

A year later, he joined West Ham United and became a key player in the Premier League and one of few professional Black football players at the time.

Members of the Ministry of Education, as well as several unions and other non-government organisations, will attend the event on Monday.

Mr Fubler asked anyone who wanted to pay their respects but could not attend to instead carry out small acts of kindness.

The event will take place from 12.30pm to 1.30pm at the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity on Church Street in Hamilton.