Reps. Cheeks, Adamini, Anderson, Byrnes, Farhat, Gillard, Gleason, Kooiman, Lemmons, Jr., Lipsey, Mayes, McDowell, Meisner, Proos, Rocca, Sak, Shaffer, Alma Smith, Stahl, Vagnozzi, Accavitti, Ball, Brown, Condino, Espinoza, Farrah, Hopgood, Leland, Lemmons, III, Miller, Mortimer, Palmer, Pastor, Plakas, Vander Veen, Waters, Wojno, Zelenko, Bennett, Bieda, Clack, Gonzales, Huizenga, McConico, Taub, Angerer, Baxter, Byrum, Cushingberry, Elsenheimer, Emmons, Green, Hansen, Hood, Jones, LaJoy, Nitz, Pearce, Phillips, Polidori and Spade offered the following resolution:
House Resolution No. 148.
A resolution honoring the life of Mrs. Rosa Parks.
Whereas, Mrs. Parks was a respected and revered icon of the struggle for civil and human rights. With a famous act of civil disobedience, she proved to be the catalyst for the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Along with the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., she sparked a transformation of American society. Mrs. Parks sat down so that we could stand up. Fifty years ago this year, her refusal to give up her seat on that Montgomery, Alabama bus helped begin the process of delivering our nation from the abomination of Jim Crow segregation; and
Whereas, Mrs. Parks was an active citizen of the state of Michigan and the city of Detroit for nearly fifty years. As a long time resident of Michigan’s 6th district, Mrs. Parks dedicated her life to improving the lives of others. She worked to help represent Michigan citizens in the office of U.S. Representative John Conyers for over 20 years. She was active in her community, particularly in helping our people to aim high and achieve their potential; and
Whereas, Through her trials and triumphs, Mrs. Parks has been a true example of a strong, loving, and compassionate woman. Her quiet strength has been recognized worldwide; and
Whereas, Mrs. Parks devoted herself to the Raymond and Rosa Parks Institute for Self Development. This institute, incorporated in 1987, helps lead the fight for learning, substance abuse prevention, and the development of leadership in American youth, with centers located in both Michigan and California. For more than fifteen years, the institute has been instrumental in changing and improving the lives of young people in Michigan and across the country. Her goal to provide limitless opportunities for youth has been realized through her works; and
Whereas, Congress, in 2000, secured an appropriation to support the important work of the Raymond and Rosa Parks Institute; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body honor the life of Mrs. Rosa Parks. We remember this great Michigan citizen as an example of the power of each individual to change the course of events in his or her community and the world for the better, and be it further
Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the Parks family and the Raymond and Rosa Parks Institute as a token of our esteem. May her legacy live on forever.