U.S. Congressman Fred Upton

Upton Praises Historic Unveiling of Rosa Parks Statue in U.S. Capitol
Upton cosponsored bill authorizing placement of statue in National Statuary Hall

Rosa Parks Statue Unveiling - Michigan Delegation

Washington, DC, Feb 27 - Congressman Fred Upton (R-St. Joseph) was honored to attend a ceremony in the U.S. Capitol this morning for the unveiling of a statue of civil rights icon Rosa Parks.  President Obama, congressional leaders, and more than 50 of Mrs. Parks’ relatives came together for the historic ceremony in National Statuary Hall inside the U.S. Capitol.  The nine-foot bronze statue of the Presidential Media of Freedom recipient is now a part of the National Statuary Hall Collection, which includes 100 statues of historic figures from all 50 states.

Upton is the cosponsor of bipartisan legislation that directed the Joint Committee on the Library to obtain a statue of the late civil rights hero for placement in the U.S. Capitol.

“In a single courageous act, Rosa Parks changed the course of our nation’s history in an extraordinary way,” said Upton, who had the great honor of meeting Mrs. Parks in 1999 when she received the Congressional Gold Medal, the nation’s highest civilian honor.  “As the Mother of the Civil Rights Movement, her statue is a permanent reminder of the great challenges our nation has overcome, giving greater hope to future generations.  Rosa Parks is a testament to the significant difference that an individual can make by taking a stand against adversity and injustice.  She is a true American legend – her legacy and spirit will forever live on.”

In November 2005, Upton was asked by then-Speaker of the House of Representatives J. Dennis Hastert to lead the bipartisan House delegation to Mrs. Parks’ funeral in Detroit.  Later, Upton worked closely with Congressman Bobby Rush (D-Chicago) in calling for a commemorative stamp to be issued by the U.S. Postal Service to honor the late Mrs. Parks, waiving the Postal Service policy against honoring individuals before the tenth anniversary of their death.

As a member of the non-partisan Faith & Politics Institute, Upton has previously co-chaired the organization’s annual Civil Rights Pilgrimage, commemorating the March to Selma.  During the pilgrimage, Upton visited the exact spot in Montgomery, Alabama, where Mrs. Parks refused to give up her seat on a city bus on December 1, 1955.