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Congressional Gold Medal Recipient
Rosa Parks
Rosa Parks acknowledging a standing ovation during a June 15, 1999, ceremony where she was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal. She was joined by her friend, Johnnie Carr. House Speaker Dennis Hastert is in the background and Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle applauds at right.
1999 Rosa Parks Rosa Parks was a seamstress who found herself in jail one evening in 1955. The reason she was arrested was that she refused to give up her seat on the bus to a White man. Her quiet dignity sparked a bus boycott that helped to change the unfair way African-Americans were treated in the South. She kept working for civil rights for many years after as well. This medal was given for her contributions to the nation as the "first lady of civil rights" and "mother of the freedom movement." Her "quiet dignity ignited the most significant social movement in the history of the United States."
CONGRESSMAN VISCLOSKY VOTES TO GIVE ROSA PARKS CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL
WASHINGTON, DC - April 20, 1999 -Today, Congressman Pete Visclosky (D-IN) voted to award the Congressional Gold Medal to Rosa Parks, one of the great heroines of the civil rights movement. The House of Representatives voted to award the medal to Mrs. Parks by a
vote of 424 to one. Rosa Parks, often honored as the "
first lady of civil rights" and the "mother of the freedom movement," was arrested on December 1, 1955 in Montgomery, Alabama for refusing to give up her seat on a bus to a white man. News of her arrest led 42,000 African Americans to boycott Montgomery buses for 381 days until bus segregation laws were changed on December 21, 1956 by order of the United States Supreme Court. "Rosa Parks is a living monument to the power of the individual," said Visclosky. "Her courage and her determination to stand up for what was right shows how much power each of us have to change our world. This Gold Medal shows how much the nation applauds her effort and appreciate the changes in society that she helped to bring about." # # # Rosa Parks honored with Congressional Gold Medal
Parks received the Congressional Gold Medal for bringing 'America home to our founders' dream'
June 15, 1999
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Hundreds of people gathered in the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday as President Clinton and top lawmakers honored civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks with the prestigious Congressional Gold Medal of Honor. "This medal is encouragement for all of us to continue until all have rights," said Parks, 86, during her brief remarks. Parks' refusal to give up her bus seat to a white passenger in Montgomery, Alabama, on December 5, 1955, triggered a black boycott of the city's bus system that lasted more than a year and eventually led to laws that ended legalized segregation. The bill to honor Parks with the Congressional Award was sponsored by Rep. Julia Carson (D-Indiana) and Sen. Spencer Abraham (R-Michigan). It passed both houses of Congress by wide margins and was signed into law by Clinton. "It is not an exaggeration to say that American history has moved through and with Rosa Parks. ... This modest woman transformed an act designed to perpetuate the harsh rule of Jim Crow into the spark that ignited a determined and righteous crusade," Abraham said. The audience of 650 people included House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Illinois) and Minority Leader Dick Gephardt (D-Missouri), who both made remarks honoring Parks. Many members of the civil rights community attended, including some of the "
Little Rock Nine," the black students at the center of the school desegregation crisis that drew nationwide attention in 1957. Parks joins a select group in receiving the
Congressional Gold Medal, the highest award bestowed by the U.S. government. The first such award was given to
Gen. George Washington in 1776. "In so many ways Rosa Parks brought America home to our founders' dream," Clinton said. "We must never ever, when this ceremony is over, forget about the power of ordinary people to stand in the fire for the cause of human dignity," he said. Seven other Congressional Gold Medals have been awarded during the Clinton administration. Recipients include the
Rev. Billy Graham in 1996 and
Frank Sinatra and
Mother Teresa in 1997.
Rosa Parks 1955
Rosa Parks Now
Remarks by the President on Congressional Gold Medal for Rosa Parks WASHINGTON -- Reminding his audience that "freedom's work is never done," President Clinton and the United States Congress bestowed the Congressional Gold Medal on civil rights legend Rosa Parks June 16. Parks was arrested on December 1, 1955, in Montgomery, Alabama, for refusing to give up her seat on a bus to a white man during the days of segregation. Her stand for equal rights became legendary. News of Mrs. Parks' arrest resulted in 42,000
African-Americans boycotting Montgomery buses for 381 days, beginning on December 5, 1955, and continuing until the bus segregation laws were changed on December 21, 1956. Speaking in the Capitol Rotunda as Parks, members of the U.S. Congress, civil rights activists, and dignitaries looked on, Clinton said: "There are still people who are discriminated against. There are still people...that because of their human condition are looked down on, derided, degraded, demeaned, and we should all remember the powerful example of this one citizen. And those of us with greater authority and power should attempt every day, in every way, to follow her lead" to rid the world of racial prejudice. THE PRESIDENT: Thank you so much. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Gephardt, Senator Daschle, Representative Carson, Senator Abraham, Representative Clyburn, Representative Watts -- to all the members of the House and the Senate here, and those not here, who supported this resolution, I thank you for what you have done -- Dr. Ogilvie, Dr. Ford,
Reverend Jackson, members of the Cabinet and the civil rights community who are here --
Dr. Height. I'd like to say a special word of welcome to two members of the
Little Rock Nine who came here to honor Rosa Parks -- Minnie Jean Brown Trickey and Robert Jefferson -- welcome to you. (Applause.) I want to thank the Howard University Gospel Choir and the incomparable Jessye Norman for their wonderful, wonderful music. (Applause.) The previous speakers have spoken with great power, eloquence, and truth. In less than 200 days now, we will mark the end of another century. They have told you the story of one brave woman, and the ripples of impact she had upon all the millions of people who lived in the United States. It is, in many ways, the quintessential story of the 20th Century -- a time with trials and tribulations which still, fundamentally, is the story of the triumph of freedom -- of democracy over dictatorship, free enterprise over state socialism, of tolerance over bigotry. It was a fight waged on the beaches of Normandy, on the islands of the South Pacific, at Checkpoint Charlie, behind the Iron Curtain, and countless known and unknown, large and small villages, across the globe. Here, at home, a fight waged in classrooms, lunch counters, and on public buses in the segregated South. For us, what has always been at stake is whether we could keep moving on that stony road, closer to the ideals of our Founders -- whether we really could be a country where we are all equal, not only endowed by our creator with -- but in fact living with -- the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Forty-four years ago, Rosa Parks reminded us all that we were a long way from those ideals; that for millions of Americans, our history was full of weary years -- our sweet land of liberty bearing only bitter fruit and silent tears. And so she sat, anchored to that seat, as
Dr. King said, "by the accumulated indignities of days gone by, and the countless aspirations of generations yet unborn." Rosa Parks said, "I didn't get on that bus to get arrested. I got on that bus to go home." In so many ways, Rosa Parks brought America home, to our Founders' dream. You know, when we look across the history of the civil rights movement, we celebrate President Lincoln and the Congress of that era -- for
Constitutional amendments. We celebrate William Lloyd Garrison and Frederick Douglass. In our own period, we celebrate President Eisenhower and sending the troops to Little Rock, the commitment of John and
Robert Kennedy, the magnificent legislative achievements of President Johnson and that Congress -- reaching across party lines. But we know that in a funny way, people who have no position or money and have only the power of their courage and character are always there before the political leaders. We know that. When Rosa Parks got on that bus in Alabama, I was a nine-year-old boy, living in Arkansas, going to segregated schools, riding public buses every single day, where all the colored people sat in the back. My family got a television when I was nine years old, just a few months before it became worldwide news that Mrs. Parks had gotten on the bus. I thought it was a pretty good deal, and so did my friends. And we couldn't figure out anything we could do, since we couldn't even vote. So, we began to sit on the back of the bus when we got on. (Laughter and applause.) It seems like -- I say this -- (applause) -- now, this is a little thing. I say it only to say we must never, ever -- when this ceremony is over -- forget about the power of ordinary people that stand in the fire for the cause of human dignity, and to touch the hearts of people that have almost turned to stone. I thank the Congress for honoring Rosa Parks. I was honored, Rosa, to give you the
Medal of Freedom, and I was thrilled during the State of the Union Address when you got that enormous, bipartisan ovation here. But remember, my fellow
Americans, freedom's work is never done. There are still people who are discriminated against. There are still people -- (applause) -- there are still people that because of their human condition are looked down on, derided, degraded, demeaned, and we should all remember the powerful example of this one citizen. And those of us with greater authority and power should attempt every day, in every way, to follow her lead. God bless you, Mrs. Parks, and God bless America. (Applause.) Now -- (applause) -- thank you. Now, I would like to -- again, this is my errand for Congresswoman Carson and Senator Abraham, and the Speaker, and Mr. Gephardt, and the other leaders here -- I understand the actual medal has not been struck yet, but a "gold line" copy of the resolution that authorizes the medal has been struck, or prepared, for Mrs. Parks. And I'd like to ask all of you to look to my left, to your right, for a glimpse of the proposed design for the medal. Could we -- Julia, why don't you go down there and you and Spence can -- (laughter) -- wow, it's beautiful. Really beautiful. Let's give a big hand to Ardith Lane (phonetic) who was the artist who prepared this. Didn't she do a wonderful job? Thank you. Vice President Al Gore presents Parks with
Congressional Gold Medal
Rosa Parks started the Civil Rights Movement when she refused to give up her seat on this bus
In 1956, Rosa Parks's arrest and the bus boycott that followed was big news
Remarks by First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton on Awarding the
Congressional Gold Medal to Rosa Parks, The First Lady of Civil Rights U.S. Congress Honors Civil Rights Warrior Rosa Parks By Eddie Eichler
USIA Staff Writer (Activist receives
Congressional Gold Medal on June 15, 1999) WASHINGTON -- In 1955, when Rosa Parks struck a blow against racial segregation in Montgomery, Alabama, by refusing to give up her seat on a public bus to a white man, there were three
African-Americans in Congress. Today there are 39, and a number of them were on hand June 15 to see Parks awarded Congress's highest civilian medal of achievement, the
Congressional Gold Medal. On hand to present the award in the Capitol Rotunda were President Clinton and members of the congressional leadership, including Speaker of the House of Representatives Dennis Hastert and House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt. The Senate was represented by Minority Leader Thomas Daschle.
Retired General Colin Powell and the
Reverend Jesse Jackson also attended the ceremony, along with many other dignitaries and civil rights activists. After giving Parks the medal, President Clinton spoke of a need for continued work towards freedom: "I thank the Congress for honoring Rosa Parks... But remember, my fellow Americans, freedom's work is never done. There are still people who are discriminated against... There are still people that because of their human condition are looked down on, derided, degraded, demeaned, and we should all remember the powerful example of this one citizen. And those of us with greater authority and power should attempt every day, in every way, to follow her lead." Rosa Parks was born in 1913 in Tuskegee, Alabama. She and her husband Raymond both worked in the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) -- she as secretary and youth leader of the local branch. In the segregationist South in the mid 1950s, blacks were forced to sit in the back of buses while the more favored front seats were reserved for whites. But Mrs. Parks, tired from work one December day in 1955, sat in a front seat and refused to budge from it when the white driver ordered her to the back of the bus. Her action touched off what became known nationally as the Montgomery Bus Boycott, during which 42,000
African-Americans refused to ride public transportation there for 381 days. It also marked the beginning of the modern civil rights movement in America and the emergence of
Martin Luther King, Jr., as its leader. Reflecting on her action, Senate Minority Leader Daschle said: "Today we honor a woman whose courageous act of defiance showed all of us how to do what Dr. King asked the people of Montgomery to do... In the instant Rosa Parks refused to move, the moral arc of the universe bent closer to justice." Daschle added that "it would be more than a year before the Supreme Court ruled Montgomery's segregated buses unconstitutional. During that time, tens of thousands of working-class
African-Americans walked miles to work ever day in the heat and the cold and the rain. Many of the boycotters, including Mrs. Parks, lost their jobs. But they persevered with courage and dignity and faith. In the end, they didn't just change the law. They changed our nation, and this world, for the better." Hastert said that all of the traits that Americans wish to instill in their children "are embodied in Mrs. Parks. Rosa Parks stood up for what was right, by refusing to physically stand up for what was wrong. Her courageous decision mobilized people around the country and launched the modern civil rights movement." House Leader Gephardt called Parks a "quiet activist who understood the moral consequences of her defiance." Expressing her appreciation upon receiving the award, Mrs. Parks said, "I receive this Congressional Medal...for the thousands of participants in the Montgomery Bus Boycott, and for the thousands who will complete the work undone.... As my legacy of 'quiet strength' passes to the youth of this nation...I am very confident that 'we shall overcome.'" Blacks have made significant political progress since Mrs. Parks's activism. According to the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, an African-American think tank, the number of black elected officials in the United States has jumped from 300 in the early 1960s to more than 8,600 today.
"We Shall Overcome" became the anthem of the civil rights movement of the 1960s
Headline from the Montgomery Advertiser, December 6, 1955
Rosa Parks
E. D. Nixon and Rosa Parks entering Courthouse 1955
President Clinton presents Rosa Parks with a resolution awarding her the Congressional Gold Medal at a ceremony in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda USA: Rep. J. C. Watts, R-OK, speaks as (left to right) Rosa Parks , Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert and President Clinton listen on during a ceremony in which Parks was presented with a resolution awarding her the Congressional Gold Medal at a ceremony in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda,
Rosa Parks born Rosa Louise McCauley
b. Tuskegee, Macon, Alabama, 4 February 1913
Tuesday, 4 May 1999 An Act
To authorize the President to award a gold medal on behalf of the Congress to Rosa Parks in recognition of her contributions to the Nation. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled
SECTION 1. FINDINGS. The Congress finds that--
(1) Rosa Parks was born on February 4, 1913, in Tuskegee, Alabama, the first child of James and Leona (Edwards) McCauley; (2) Rosa Parks is honored as the "first lady of civil rights" and the "mother of the freedom movement", and her quiet dignity ignited the most significant social movement in the history of the United States; (3) Rosa Parks was arrested on December 1, 1955, in Montgomery, Alabama, for refusing to give up her seat on a bus to a white man, and her stand for equal rights became legendary; (4) news of Rosa Parks arrest resulted in 42,000 African Americans boycotting Montgomery buses for 381 days, beginning on December 5, 1955, until the bus segregation laws were changed on December 21, 1956; (5) the United States Supreme Court ruled on November 13, 1956, that the Montgomery segregation law was unconstitutional, and on December 20, 1956, Montgomery officials were ordered to desegregate buses; (6) the civil rights movement led to the
Civil Rights Act of 1964, which broke down the barriers of legal discrimination against
African Americans and made equality before the law a reality for all Americans; (7) Rosa Parks is the recipient of many awards and accolades for her efforts on behalf of racial harmony, including the Springarn Award, the NAACPs highest honor for civil rights contributions, the
Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Nations highest civilian honor, and the first International Freedom Conductor Award from the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center; (8) Rosa Parks has dedicated her life to the cause of universal human rights and truly embodies the love of humanity and freedom; (9) Rosa Parks was the first woman to join the Montgomery chapter of the NAACP, was an active volunteer for the Montgomery Voters League, and in 1987, cofounded the Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self-Development; (10) Rosa Parks, by her quiet courage, symbolizes all that is vital about nonviolent protest, as she endured threats of death and persisted as an advocate for the simple, basic lessons she taught the Nation and from which the Nation has benefited immeasurably; and (11) Rosa Parks, who has resided in the State of Michigan since 1957, has become a living icon for freedom in America.
SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL. (a) PRESENTATION AUTHORIZED.--The President is authorized to award to Rosa Parks, on behalf of the Congress, a gold medal of appropriate design honoring Rosa Parks in recognition of her contributions to the Nation. (b) DESIGN AND STRIKING.--For the purposes of the award referred to in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury (hereafter in this Act referred to as the "Secretary") shall strike a gold medal with suitable emblems, devices, and inscriptions, to be determined by the Secretary.
SEC. 3. DUPLICATE MEDALS. The Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold medal struck pursuant to section 2, under such regulations as the Secretary may prescribe, and at a price sufficient to cover the costs thereof, including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, and overhead expenses, and the cost of the gold medal.
SEC. 4. STATUS AS NATIONAL MEDALS. The medals struck pursuant to this Act are national medals for purposes of chapter 51 of title 31, United States Code.
SEC. 5. FUNDING. (a) AUTHORITY TO USE FUND AMOUNTS.--There is authorized to be charged against the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund an amount not to exceed $30,000 to pay for the cost of the medals authorized by this Act. (b) PROCEEDS OF SALE.--Amounts received from the sale of duplicate bronze medals under section 3 shall be deposited in the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund. 113 Stat. 50-51
Senator John Breaux Remarks on the Presentation to Rosa Parks
July 11, 1999
Pope John Paul II meets with Rosa Parks Inscription on marker
ROSA PARKS MONTGOMERY BUS BOYCOTT "At this bus stop on this date December 1, 1955, Mrs. Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to boarding whites. This brought about her arrest, conviction and fine. The Boycott began December 5, the day of Parks' trial as a protest by African-Americans for unequal treatment they received on the bus line. Refusing to ride the buses they maintained the Boycott until the U.S. Supreme Court ordered integration of public transportation one year later. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. led the Boycott, the beginning of the modern Civil Rights Movement."
click for larger image Mrs. Rosa Parks
The Rosa & Raymond Parks Institute for Self Development
65 Cadillac Square, Suite 2200
Detroit, MI 48226
(313) 965-0606
http://www.rosaparks.org
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