Statue honoring Parks could become a reality
Kerry, Obama, and Jackson Jr. lead the charge to build statue in the Capitol
Hazel Trice Edney, NNPA Washington Correspondent
Issue date: 11/10/05 Section: POLITICS
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Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), a co-sponsor of Kerry's bill, is the only Black senator. He notes how Parks' actions would be the antithesis of many memorialized around her. "Rosa Parks held no public office, but when the history of this country is written, her name and her legacy will be remembered long after the names of senators and presidents have been forgotten.
"So it is only fitting," said Obama, "that her cause, her beliefs and her struggles be immortalized in the Capitol alongside statues of the men whose hearts her actions helped change."
Kerry introduced his bill Nov. 3, the day after Parks was laid to rest after nine days of tributes, including a seven-hour funeral in Detroit and flags flown at half-staff. Though Parks received bipartisan support for her historic viewing in the rotunda, so far, co-sponsors of Jackson's and Kerry's bills are mostly Democrats. Of 158 sponsors, Jackson's bill has 124 Democrats and 34 Republicans. All except one of Kerry's six co-sponsors are Democrats. Still, he is optimistic.
"I believe it will pass. I am very optimistic about it. I can't think of a person more deserving," Kerry says. "Rosa Parks sat down so we could stand up, but not so we could stand still. The bus of prejudice still comes by and each time we have to decide whether to go quietly to the back, or, by everyday acts of courage and conviction, change the direction of our country."
Her contributions are even beyond many who are already memorialized there, Jackson notes. "Rosa Parks took the legal principle of 'equal protection under the law' for all Americans in the 1954 Brown decision and applied it to the public transportation - which eventually led to a 1964 Civil Rights Act, a 1965 Voting Rights Act and a 1968 Open Housing Act, all of which helped to build a more perfect union among the states and make America better."
"So it is only fitting," said Obama, "that her cause, her beliefs and her struggles be immortalized in the Capitol alongside statues of the men whose hearts her actions helped change."
Kerry introduced his bill Nov. 3, the day after Parks was laid to rest after nine days of tributes, including a seven-hour funeral in Detroit and flags flown at half-staff. Though Parks received bipartisan support for her historic viewing in the rotunda, so far, co-sponsors of Jackson's and Kerry's bills are mostly Democrats. Of 158 sponsors, Jackson's bill has 124 Democrats and 34 Republicans. All except one of Kerry's six co-sponsors are Democrats. Still, he is optimistic.
"I believe it will pass. I am very optimistic about it. I can't think of a person more deserving," Kerry says. "Rosa Parks sat down so we could stand up, but not so we could stand still. The bus of prejudice still comes by and each time we have to decide whether to go quietly to the back, or, by everyday acts of courage and conviction, change the direction of our country."
Her contributions are even beyond many who are already memorialized there, Jackson notes. "Rosa Parks took the legal principle of 'equal protection under the law' for all Americans in the 1954 Brown decision and applied it to the public transportation - which eventually led to a 1964 Civil Rights Act, a 1965 Voting Rights Act and a 1968 Open Housing Act, all of which helped to build a more perfect union among the states and make America better."