By Bob Katzen

The House approved and sent to the Senate legislation that would designate February 4th as Rosa Parks Day, in recognition of the historic civil rights leader. Parks famously refused to give her bus seat up to a white man On December 1, 1955, in Montgomery, Alabama.

Co-sponsor Rep. Mike Kushmerek (D-Fitchburg) said he co-sponsored the measure in order to bring awareness and representation to the heroic actions of Rosa Parks during the Civil Rights Movement. “February 4th is the birthday of Rosa Parks, so it will be a great reminder to all those within the commonwealth to reflect on the role she played in raising international awareness of the struggles for civil rights…I am ecstatic that the house has acknowledged the importance of honoring Rosa Parks.”

“Rosa Parks was a hero of the civil rights movement whose small but courageous act to challenge segregation kindled and continues to inspire the fight for justice and equality of all peoples,” said co-sponsor Rep. Kip Diggs