Mother Parks, take your rest

“I can honestly say that without Mrs. Parks, I probably would not be standing here today as a secretary of state” said the secretary of state of United states Condoleezza Rice when honoring Rosa Parks in Alabama. Rosa Parks, who inspired a generation to fight for civil rights, died on Monday October 24th 2005 at the age of 92.

Rosa Louise Parks has been called the "Mother of the Modern-Day Civil Rights Movement." By not giving up her seat to a white passenger on a city bus, Rosa Parks started a protest that was felt throughout the United States. Her quiet, courageous act changed America and redirected the course of history.

This brave woman, Rosa Parks, was arrested and fined for violating a city ordinance, but her lonely act of defiance began a movement that ended legal segregation in America, and made her an inspiration to freedom-loving people everywhere.

The bus incident led to the formation of the Montgomery Improvement Association, led by the young pastor of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The association called for a boycott of the city-owned bus company. The boycott lasted 382 days and brought Mrs. Parks, Dr. King, and their cause to the attention of the world. A Supreme Court Decision struck down the Montgomery ordinance under which Mrs. Parks had been fined, and outlawed racial segregation on public transportation.

The world famous reputed magazine Time honored Rosa Parks as one of the most influential and heroes and icons of 20th century. Parks become the first women to lie in honor in the Capital Rotunda, sharing an honor bestowed upon Abraham Lincoln, John Kennedy and the United States esteemed leaders. Rosa Parks has received hundreds of awards and honors, including the Medal of Freedom Award, presented by President Clinton in 1996.

The President Bush, along with leaders of the House and Senate, lay wraths and had stood silently for 15 minutes before the coffin. An estimated 40,000 people filed silently by her casket in the Capitol Rotunda in hushed reverence, beginning Sunday night and continuing until well pas sunrise Monday.

Renowned talk show host Oprah Winfrey, who was born in Mississippi during segregation, said Parks stand "changed the trajectory of my life and the lives of so many other people in the world. I would not be standing here today, nor standing where I stand every day, had she not chosen to sit down”.

Former President Bill Clinton, his wife, Sen. Hillary Clinton, and others paid their respects at Parks' open casket before the start of the funeral service. "The world knows of Rosa Parks because of a single, simple act of dignity and courage that struck a lethal blow to the foundations of legal bigotry" said Clinton, who remembered riding segregated buses in his native Arkansas until Parks' stand allowed him and others to break through that barrier of racism.

Parks with her defiant act inspired the civil rights movement which ended many atrocious practices and bought justice to many.

We salute you, Mrs. Parks.

P.S. The civil rights movement not only benefited African Americans here, it benefited the Indians also (Read the Article ‘Learn Social justice from Indian Inc’ in Indian Express).