[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 140 (Friday, October 28, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2215]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO ROSA PARKS

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 26, 2005

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life 
of one of the most important figures in our Nation's history: Mrs. Rosa 
Parks. In 1955, this courageous and gallant young lady took a stand. Or 
more correctly, took a seat, on a public bus in Montgomery, Alabama. 
Her refusal to give up her seat to a white man may have resulted in a 
disorderly conduct conviction and a $14 fine. But her refusal to move 
to the back of the bus ignited a flame that started a revolution. She 
brought forth change among the American people. The consequences and 
significance of her stand makes her a true hero in American history.
  We always hear how Mrs. Parks refused to give up her seat because she 
was tired from a long day of work, but this is only a half truth. Yes, 
she was tired. But Rosa Parks' weariness came not only from a hard 
day's work, but also from years of discrimination that she and our 
people faced daily due to the racist and segregationist laws of our 
country. She knew that blacks were required to give their seats to 
white passengers if there were no more empty seats. But Rosa Parks made 
a conscious decision to fight. All of us here today, white, brown, 
black and blue, are better off today because Rosa Parks said, ``No.''
  Rosa Parks' arrest served as a catalyst for a massive 381 day boycott 
of the public buses in Montgomery, which was led by another great 
individual, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. During this time, African 
Americans would carpool, walk, bike, taxi, or do whatever else they had 
to do to get to their various destinations. They did everything, but 
ride the bus. Despite the harassment that everyone involved in the 
civil rights movement faced, the boycott continued and was successful. 
Resolution was finally achieved in 1956 when the case was brought to 
court, and the segregation of buses was ruled unconstitutional. As we 
all know, what Rosa Parks jump started in 1955, eventually led to 
passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights act of 
1965.
  During her lifetime, Mrs. Parks worked for the equality of not just 
black people, but all people. She was elected secretary of the 
Montgomery branch of the National Association for the Advancement of 
Colored People, unsuccessfully attempted to vote many times to prove 
her point of discrimination, and founded the Rosa and Raymond Parks 
Institute for Self Development, an organization which aids in the 
social and educational development of our youth.
  Rosa Parks demonstrated that one person can help so many other people 
by standing up for what they believe in. While we grieve her death, we 
also celebrate her life. We must remember her actions inspired others 
to dream more, learn more, and do more. With that, we all become more. 
A great man once said, ``All of the great leaders have had one 
characteristic in common; it was the willingness to confront 
unequivocally the major anxiety of their people in their time. This, 
and not much else, is the essence of leadership.'' Great leaders of the 
time, such as Rosa Parks, were tired of the inequality, and tired of 
the disparity that African Americans were facing at that time.
  She challenged; she led; she served; and she inspired. Rosa Parks 
died with honor and principle. We have, but no other option, to live 
our lives in a manner which honors and mirrors the virtues she pursued 
with absolute courage and bravery.

                          ____________________