Chicago, IL. ----(October 24, 2005) - “It is with great sadness to learn of the passing of Rosa Parks.  Not only did she play a role in igniting the Civil Rights Movement, she helped define it.  By refusing to move from the Whites-only section of a bus in Montgomery, Alabama, her courageous act of defiance motivated thousands around the country to stand up and speak out against racial injustice.”

 “A heroine that history could not ignore, Rosa Parks’ legacy is a reminder to us all that in order to prosper, we must be willing to persevere.”