Roby Celebrates Rosa Parks' Legacy at Capitol Statue Dedication
By: Blake Deshazo
Updated: February 27, 2013
WASHINGTON,
D.C. - U.S. Representative Martha Roby (R-AL) today celebrated the
legacy of
civil rights icon Rosa Parks during the unveiling and dedication of
Parks' statue in the U.S. Capitol. The statue is a special honor for the
Montgomery native whose refusal to give up her seat on an city bus in
December 1955 sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott
and, in many ways, began the American Civil Rights Movement.
"Rosa
Parks' refusal to move to the back of that Montgomery bus in 1955
sparked a movement
that changed Alabama for the better, and changed America for good," Rep.
Roby said. "The statue beautifully depicts Mrs. Parks seated, a
reminder of her simple, but brave act in defiance of unjust segregation
laws. I hope this statue will help future generations
experience the Rosa Parks story and understand its significance. So many
individuals contributed to the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the American
Civil Rights Movement, and this statue also stands to honor their
courage and sacrifice. I was proud to attend the
statue unveiling ceremony on behalf of Alabama's Second Congressional
District and witness this special moment."
Rosa Parks is the first African-American woman to be honored with a statue in the U.S. Capitol.
On
a related note, Rep. Roby will serve alongside colleagues Rep. Terri
Sewell (D-AL) and
Rep. Spencer Bachus (R-AL) as an Honorary Co-Host of the 2013 Faith and
Politics Congressional Civil Rights Pilgrimage to Alabama this weekend,
which will feature events in Montgomery and Selma. For more information
on the three-day trip, visit www.faithandpolitics.org.
