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Issue date: 11/14/05 Section: News

Rosa Parks proved to the world that one person can make a difference.

Civil rights hero Rosa Parks died on Oct. 24 at the age of 92. Parks' name has gone down in history for being the key woman in the civil rights movement. The famous bus incident took place in Montgomery, Alabama on Dec. 1, 1955, when she refused to give up her seat to a white passenger on a public bus.

Because of her stand, Parks was arrested and fined for violating the city's ordinance at that time. Her single act of defiance led to, with the help of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a boycott of the bus public transportation that lasted 382 days.

At last, the Supreme Court took notice of this case, and struck down Montgomery's city ordinance. The Supreme Court's decision on Parks' case was followed by a declaration that racial segregation on public transportation was illegal.

Psychology major Leineisha Weathersby said, "I feel like, as a woman, she was influential to give us the motivation to be able to stand up for what is right and not to be afraid to speak out about what is right." Psychology major Naomi Fernandez agrees, saying, "She was a good example for not only the African American community, but for women and women activists."

Parks has been acknowledged for numerous awards for her courage during and after the civil rights movement. In 1995, Parks was inducted into the Academy of Achievement. The Academy quotes Parks for saying, "the only thing that bothered me was that we waited so long to make this protest."

Business administration major Mike Pullman reacted to this by saying, "even though she knew her decision that day would not be easy for her, Rosa Parks did what she believed in and what she thought was right. I have great respect for her and I think she serves as a role model for all of us as to how we should strive to liveour lives."

After her funeral, Parks' casket was placed in the United States Capitol for two days so the our nation could pay its respects.

Parks was the first woman in American history to lie in our nation's capitol. This is an established honor that is usually presented to people who have been incredibly influential, such as American presidents.

Although Parks is now deceased, combined special and elementary education major Lindsay Celaya believes that, "it is still important to teach our youth about the impacts Rosa Parks' courageous acts had and still have on our society."

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