Boulder County is celebrating the 60th anniversary of Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day on Wednesday.

On Nov. 14, 1960, Bridges began the first grade at William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans, becoming the school’s first Black student after federal courts ordered the desegregation of public schools.

Bridges, then 6, was escorted by four federal marshals as a mob of white people screamed at, insulted and threatened her.

The mob came throughout the year, at one point bringing a baby-sized coffin with a Black doll inside.

Bridges was taught alone for an entire school year as the other students were withdrawn in protest of her enrollment. Bridges’ mother was refused service at grocery stores and her father lost his job.

But Bridges persevered. By the time she reached the second grade, there were eight Black students in the school’s incoming first grade class.

Bridges, now 66, is a civil rights speaker, author and advocate living in New Orleans with her husband and four sons. She was named one of USA Today’s Women of the Century this year.

Boulder County is celebrating Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day with a community walk to school and promoting free educational resources on Bridges’ life made available online.

The county is also collecting signatures until Nov. 22 for a group card to be sent to Bridges.

Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day is celebrated annually on Nov. 14. Boulder County is observing the event on Nov. 18 because Nov. 14 fell on a Saturday this year.