John,
The story of Rosa Parks continues to inspire. Her role in catalyzing the Montgomery Bus Boycott, through her arrest on December 1, 1955, is the stuff of legends. How a Black woman took on racist Jim Crow laws, and won!
Not as well known, however, is how Rosa Parks’ refusal to go to the back of the bus was not a single act of defiance, but the result of a history of struggle and organizing. As one author noted:
“Parks' defiance of Montgomery's segregation laws was not an isolated incident. It was part of a lifelong crusade to dismantle Jim Crow. She was a veteran activist and part of a local movement whose leaders had been waiting for the right moment to launch a campaign against bus segregation.”
Our work today, in 2019, builds on the work of past generations, including the heroes of the Civil Rights Movement. Voting rights laws, public housing, Medicare and more — these were won by powerful movements in the 1960s, which themselves built upon generations of organizing.
Today, we continue these struggles: to fight voter suppression, to house the homeless, to extend healthcare to every American, to ensure justice and opportunity for all. The Republican Party knows how important the Civil Rights Movement was — they’ve been working to undo those achievements for the last fifty years. It’s our job to keep fighting, and to make room for the next generation of leaders, like Ms. Rosa Parks.
We never know when our actions will result in lasting changes. But by continuing to do the work, we lay the foundation for social progress. As historian Peter Dreier wrote:
“Many ideas that were once considered outrageous, utopian and impractical are today taken for granted. The radical ideas of one generation often become the common sense of subsequent generations. That only happens when people like Rosa Parks — a movement activist — join forces for the long haul.”
Let’s keep doing this work! And give thanks to all who cleared the path we walk today.
In solidarity,
Mike Siegel
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PAID FOR BY MIKE SIEGEL FOR CONGRESS
PO Box 2409
Austin, TX 78701
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