I got a little choked up when I saw this AP story, by Ken Thomas:

RosaParks, the seamstress whose act of defiance on a public bus ahalf-century ago helped spark the civil rights movement, will joinpresidents and war heroes who have been honored in death with a publicviewing in the Capitol Rotunda.

Parks, whodied Monday in Detroit at age 92… would be the first woman and second black American to receive theaccolade. Jacob J. Chestnut, one of two Capitol police officers fatallyshot in 1998, was the first black American to lie in honor…
 “Themovement that Rosa Parks helped launch changed not only our country,but the entire world, as her actions gave hope to every individualfighting for civil and human rights,” said Senate Democratic leaderHarry Reid of Nevada. “We now can honor her in a way deserving of hercontributions and legacy.”

Got something to say?

Send a letter to the editor and we'll publish your feedback in print!

Seven Days’ deputy publisher and co-owner Cathy Resmer is a writer, editor and advocate for local journalism. She works in the paper’s Burlington office and lives vicariously through the reporters while raising money to pay them. Cathy started at...