In Honor and Recognition of Civil Rights Activist Rosa Parks
Kucinich gave the following speech in Congress on November 1, 2005:
"Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and remembrance of Rosa Parks, a powerful woman, an American heroine, and a champion for all Americans.
"The transformation of a young seamstress into an immortal heroine is a rare occurrence. Rosa Parks had a number of societal barriers working against her: she was an African American in the segregated South and a woman, with no political or social standing, emerging from humble parentage. Nonetheless, she conquered obstacles, set the stage for a movement for civil rights, and is forever an example for all of us.
"Rosa Parks was born and raised in Alabama by a carpenter and a teacher. Brought into a world that degraded and intimidated her with its racism, Rosa Parks, along with many others, lived in submission and fear. By the age of 42, Rosa Parks was married and an active member in the NAACP. Her frustration with the intolerance around her led to an event that set the stage for the Montgomery Bus Boycott, and became a cornerstone in the Civil Rights Movement.
"On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks refused to surrender her bus seat to a white rider. This dignified pronouncement depicted to the country the injustice facing African Americans. Her single action eventually led to a Supreme Court ruling that outlaws segregation on city buses. Not only did her effort lend support to America's civil rights movement, but to civil rights movements worldwide.
"The fight for equality and justice Rosa Parks sparked will never end, and we will continue to be motivated by the courage of one woman who made a profound choice in 1955. In her honor, and for the integrity of every citizen in this country, it is essential to continue in Mrs. Parks's footsteps.
"The United States Congress calls Rosa Parks the 'Mother of the Modern Day Civil Rights Movement.' Throughout her life she was the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the NAACP's Spingarn Medal, and the Congressional Gold Medal.
"Mr. Speaker and Colleagues, please join me in honor and remembrance of Rosa Parks, whose dedication to the pursuit of justice for all Americans will never be forgotten. Though she will be greatly missed, her legacy will be a constant reminder of how far we have come in ensuring civil, social, and political rights to African Americans, and how much further remains to guarantee equality to every citizen of our country."
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