Sarah Keys Evans was a pioneering figure in the Civil Rights movement and a key figure in the fight against segregation in the United States military. In 1952, while traveling on a bus from Fort Dix, New Jersey to her family's home in North Carolina, Sarah Keys was asked to give up her seat to accommodate a white Marine. However, she refused to give up her seat, citing the recent Supreme Court ruling in Morgan v. Virginia, which declared segregation on interstate buses unconstitutional.

Keys' defiance led to her arrest and imprisonment, but her case brought national attention to the issue of segregation in interstate transportation. With the support of the NAACP, Keys filed a lawsuit against the bus company, ultimately leading to her victory in 1955 when the Interstate Commerce Commission issued orders prohibiting segregation on interstate buses and in bus terminals.

Sarah Keys' brave stand against segregation helped pave the way for the Civil Rights Movement and played a significant role in desegregating public transportation in the United States. Her courage and determination continue to inspire generations of activists fighting for racial equality and justice.