Honoring the Legacy of Rosa Parks and Judge Constance Baker Motley

HONORING THE LEGACY OF ROSA PARKS AND JUDGE CONSTANCE BAKER MOTLEY -- (House of Representatives - October 27, 2005)

(Mr. MEEKS of New York asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute.)

Mr. MEEKS of New York. Madam Speaker, it is with great pain that I stand here today to mourn the recent passing of several phenomenal women and leaders in our Nation's struggle for equal justice under the law. The passing of Rosa Parks and Judge Constance Baker Motley is a sad reality, but I stand to commemorate their triumphant lives. Judge Motley and Rosa Parks faced racism head on and continued to work for a more just world until their last days.

Rosa Parks was 92 years old and almost made it to the 50th anniversary of the Montgomery bus boycott, which she set in motion by refusing to give her seat to a white man on Montgomery's segregated city bus system. Mrs. Parks was arrested for her action.

As a New Yorker, I hold dearly the legacy of Judge Constance Baker Motley. That is why I introduced legislation to honor her. Constance Baker Motley won nine out of 10 civil rights cases she argued before the Supreme Court. She worked on all of the major school segregation cases, including Brown v. Board of Education, and advised civil rights leaders including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Judge Motley was the first African-American woman to serve in the New York State Senate. She was the first black woman to be appointed to a Federal judgeship.

Rosa Parks once said, ``Memories of our lives, of our works, and our deeds will continue in others.'' She was absolutely right. Not only will the memories live on, but the legacy has forever stirred the resolve of many in our Nation to advocate for social justice, human dignity, and harmony.

http://thomas.loc.gov