What Happened When a Bus Driver Allegedly Forced Black Men to Sit at the Back of His Bus like Rosa Parks

Two men boarded a Jefferson Lines bus in Fargo, North Dakota, but instead of a smooth ride to their destination in Minnesota, they were transported back to the height of the Civil Rights Movement. And now, one of the alleged victims, Xavier Davis, is taking legal action.

It’s been almost 70 years since a Montgomery bus driver ordered Rosa Parks to move to the back of a bus. But it seems history is repeating itself after the same thing happened to two men who are now suing Jefferson Lines and the unnamed bus driver for alleged racial discrimination, KARE reported.

The incident happened on July 13, 2023. That’s when Davis claims the bus driver approached him and another Black man, ordering them to the back of the bus despite the company having a “first come, first served” seating policy, according to the lawsuit obtained by the Miami Herald.

This led to an argument between the men and the driver, but in efforts to diffuse the situation and get to their destination on time, the men eventually complied with the driver’s orders. They then watched as other white passengers boarded the bus and chose their seat without incident.

The lawsuit also claims the two men just so happened to be the only Black people on the bus, making the entire situation more complicated. According to Davis’ attorney, Samuel Savage, the 2023 exchange had racial undertones reminiscent of 1955. “Rosa Parks took a stand in 1955, refused to give up her seat, and we’re not going back, not now, not ever, not in 2023, not in 2025,” Savage’s statement read.

To be expected, the bus driver tells a different story behind the reason he asked the men to move. Four days after the incident, the bus company asked the driver to make an incident report. In it, the driver claims the men smelled like marijuana, according to the lawsuit.

Additionally, part of the suit includes a human rights investigation by the state which found probable cause that Davis was in fact discriminated against, KARE reported. There is no policy by Jefferson Lines that dictates passengers board from the back of the vehicle to the front, contradicting the driver’s account.

So now, Davis is suing. He’s seeking $50,000 in damages. A Jefferson Lines spokesperson told KARE that the company doesn’t comment on active legal matters.