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“It's important that today the Senate is honoring a true national hero, Mrs. Rosa Parks. As you know, I introduced legislation to honor Rosa Parks with a statue in National Statuary Hall. I thank the Chair of the Rules Committee, Senator McConnell, and the Ranking Member, Senator Dodd, for amending their legislation to designate Statuary Hall as a venue for a tribute to this great American. I think it is important we ensure that the memory of Rosa Parks is honored by placing a statue of her in the United States Capitol so future generations can understand her monumental efforts for civil rights and know the importance of living by her example still today.
“I thank Senators McConnell and Dodd for working with me and amending their resolution to ensure that Statuary Hall is considered as a possible location for the statue of Mrs. Parks. I also thank the numerous Senators who supported my legislation, S. 1959. I am supporting Mr. McConnell's and Mr. Dodd's measure today because I believe it is paramount that we honor Rosa Parks in our Capitol, but I want to be very clear that her statue should be in Statuary Hall.
“On November 3, 2005, I introduced legislation to place a statue of Rosa Parks in Statuary Hall in the Capitol. This is a location of great significance, particularly on this occasion and particularly with this individual. While there are memorials for prominent African Americans in the Capitol Collection, none of those are located in the hall that gives a state-by-state account of our country’s history. In the struggle for civil rights, some were called to stand up to Bull Connor’s fire hoses and police dogs - some to stand up to Klan terrorism - and some to stand up to state sponsored acts of violence. But some were called simply to sit down - at lunch counters in Greensboro and Nashville and Atlanta - or on a bus in Montgomery. This simple action of peaceful opposition to existing rules had a significant impact on the lives of all Americans. Her act of courage on December 1, 1955, inspired a movement that eventually brought about laws to end segregation, ensure voting rights, end discrimination in housing, and create a greater equality throughout this nation.
“I have been working closely with my colleagues in the House of Representatives, particularly with Representative Jesse Jackson Jr. from Illinois, whose bill has over 170 cosponsors to honor Rosa Parks in Statuary Hall. It is identical in content to my original bill, S. 1959, to ensure that Mrs. Parks’ statue is placed in Statuary Hall. When the House passes Representative Jackson's bill, it is my intention to bring that legislation up for a vote in the Senate to ensure that her memory is enshrined in the most hallowed halls of our government.
“This week, Representative Jackson and I began a national week of action to pass our legislation honoring Rosa Parks with a statue in National Statuary Hall. Our goal is to have Congress pass both bills by December 1, 2005 -- the 50th anniversary of Rosa Parks' courageous decision not to move to the back of the bus.
“Rosa Parks was one of our greatest American heroes, a woman whose quiet courage changed a country. She deserves the highest honors this country can give. I can think of no better way to honor the 50th anniversary of Rosa Parks' brave act against injustice than by passing legislation that ensures that schoolchildren, members of Congress and presidents visiting the Capitol can see how highly our nation thinks of her, and that we need to follow her example of refusing to go quietly to the back of the bus.”
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