Octavius V. Catto

Octavius V. Catto is one of the most influential civil rights activists from Philadelphia during the 19th century. He fought for the abolition of slavery and civil rights. He was prominent in the actions that successfully desegregated Philadelphia's public trolleys and played a major role in the ratification of the 15th amendment, which banned voter discrimination on the basis of race. He did all of this at a young age. When he was only 32, he was shot and killed outside of his home which was the first Election Day that African Americans were allowed to vote.