sign in sign up
<<
Home , Rosa Parks

Dec. 1 / Administration of George W. Bush, 2005

Remarks on Signing Legislation To Place a Statue of Parks in the at the , 2005

The President. Welcome. Please be seat- if any white people were standing. But after ed. Thank you all for being here. Laura a lifetime of discrimination and a hard day’s and I thank you for joining us on this spe- work, Rosa refused. As she would say later, cial day. quote, ‘‘I wasn’t tired physically or no more Fifty years ago, an African American tired than I usually was at the end of a woman named Rosa Parks helped set in working day. No, the only tired I was, was motion a national movement for equality tired of giving in.’’ and freedom when she refused a bus driv- By refusing to give in, Rosa Parks er’s order to give her seat to a white man. showed that one candle can light the dark- The bill I’m about to sign calls for a statue ness. Like so many institutionalized evils, of Rosa Parks to be placed in the Capitol’s segregation ultimately depended on public National Statuary Hall. accommodation. Like so many institutional- By placing her statue in the heart of ized evils, once the ugliness of these laws the Nation’s Capitol, we commemorate her was held up to the light, they could not work for a more perfect union, and we stand. Like so many institutionalized evils, commit ourselves to continue to struggle these laws proved no match for the power for justice for every American. of an awakened , and as a result, I’m honored the Secretary of State has the cruelty and humiliation of the Jim Crow joined us as well as Secretary Alphonso laws are now a thing of the past. Jackson. I want to thank the bill sponsors, By refusing to give in, Rosa Parks helped , Jr.—I see you brought some inspire a nationwide effort for equal justice of your family with you—[laughter]—Sen- under the law. When she refused to yield ator John Kerry, Senator Thad Cochran, her seat, Mrs. Parks was arrested, convicted Senator Dick Lugar joining us as well. of violating the segregation laws, and fined I’m proud that Bruce Gordon is here. $10, plus $4 in court fees. Her arrest He’s the president and CEO of the sparked a boycott of the Montgomery bus NAACP. Thanks for joining us, Bruce. I lines by its black passengers and the forma- want to thank all the civil rights leaders tion of a local association of African Ameri- who’ve joined us as well. I particularly want cans led by a young preacher named Mar- to say thanks to Elaine Steele, representa- tin Luther , Jr. The boycott ended tive of the Rosa Parks Institute. more than a year later after the Supreme Elaine Eason Steele. Right here. Court struck down segregation on buses. The President. Thank you. Welcome. What had begun as a simple act of civil We’ve got a seat for you. disobedience ended up galvanizing the It’s great to see Dr. as modern movement for civil rights. well. Welcome, Dr. Height. I want to thank By refusing to give in, Rosa Parks called all of Rosa Parks’s family who have joined America back to its founding promise of us as well. You’re kind to come. equality and justice for everyone. When the Rosa Parks was the daughter of the police officer boarded the bus and told the South who worked as a seamstress at a seamstress that he had to arrest her, he department store in a Montgomery, Ala- explained that the law was the law. Rosa bama. On December 1, 1955, she boarded and the black ministers who defended her a city bus. Under local and State law, Afri- invoked more than the law; they invoked can had to give up their seats the Constitution and pointed to a higher

1800

VerDate Nov 24 2008 15:10 May 27, 2009 Jkt 206693 PO 00000 Frm 00632 Fmt 1240 Sfmt 1240 E:\HR\OC\206693A.021 206693A cprice-sewell on PROD1PC72 with HEARING Administration of George W. Bush, 2005 / Dec. 1

law. Our Declaration of Independence bama woman riding home on a Cleveland makes clear that the human right to dignity Avenue bus. and equality is not a grant of Government. It is fitting that this America hero will It is the gift of the Author of Life. And now be honored with a monument inside by holding our Nation true to the words the most visible symbol of American de- of its founding document, Rosa Parks mocracy. We hope that generations of helped her fellow claim Americans will remember what this brave their God-given freedoms and made Amer- woman did and be inspired to add their ica a better place. own contributions to the unfolding story Eventually the of American freedom for all. would succeed in persuading Congress to And now it’s my honor to sign the bill pass more sweeping legislation that dealt that will make Rosa Parks the first African American woman to be honored with a stat- with voting rights and discrimination in ue in our Nation’s Capitol. public places and school segregation, and the should renew NOTE: The President spoke at 10:33 a.m. in the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Room 450 of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Ex- Dr. King liked to say that our Civil ecutive Office Building. In his remarks, he Rights Act was written in the streets by referred to Elaine Eason Steele, cofounder, the citizens who marched for justice and Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self equality. And on this day, we remember Development; and civil rights leader Dorothy the great inspiration this movement drew I. Height. H.R. 4145, approved December from the quiet courage shown by an Ala- 1, was assigned Public Law No. 109–116.

Remarks on Lighting the National Christmas Tree December 1, 2005

Thank you all very much. Welcome to Peace, and John Betchkal, all the members the Christmas Pageant of Peace. Laura and of the board. I appreciate Secretary of the I are so honored to join you all. The light- Interior Gale Norton, other members of my ing of the National Christmas Tree is one Cabinet who are here. I appreciate the of the great traditions in our Nation’s Cap- Members of Congress who have come. ital. Each year, we gather here to celebrate I particularly want to give a special the season of hope and joy and to remem- thanks to the National Parks Service Direc- ber the story of one humble life that lifted tor Fran Mainella and all the good folks the sights of humanity. who work for the National Parks Service. Santa, thanks for coming. [Laughter] Reverend Martin, thank you very much as Glad you made it. I know you’ve got a well. lot of commitments this time of year. By Christmas is a time to rejoice and to the way, we have a lot of chimneys in the give thanks for the blessings of the season White House—[laughter]—if you’re looking and for the blessings that surround us every for something to do. I appreciate all our day of the year. We also remember that entertainers. Thanks for being here. This we have a responsibility to help those in is a fantastic evening. need. America is a compassionate and gen- I want to thank Peter Nostrand, who is erous land, and acts of kindness toward the chairman of the Christmas Pageant of others fulfill the spirit of the season.

1801

VerDate Nov 24 2008 15:10 May 27, 2009 Jkt 206693 PO 00000 Frm 00633 Fmt 1240 Sfmt 1240 E:\HR\OC\206693A.021 206693A cprice-sewell on PROD1PC72 with HEARING