SDCCD: Rosa Parks Virtual Birthday Event

Press release from San Diego Community College District:

January 31, 2022

San Diego Mesa College will host a virtual event to celebrate Rosa Parks' birthday
and honor her legacy from noon to 1:30 p.m. on Friday, February 4, 2022.

At Mesa College, Rosa Parks is remembered not only as the iconic civil rights activist
she was, but as the brilliant, kind, and gracious woman who visited the campus on
many occasions to share her story and inspire our students to greatness. To honor
her, a memorial was built on the campus at the transit stop, to remind us of that
momentous day in 1955 when she refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white man.
Her defiance and that of many others resulted in the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which
lasted for 13 months and resulted in the court ruling that Montgomery bus segregation
laws were unconstitutional. Her action sparked civil rights activism throughout the
country and the world.

Parks worked tirelessly for equality and social change throughout her life, far beyond
that one pivotal act of civil disobedience. But we can't underestimate or underappreciate
the impact her selfless decision has had on all of us, African Americans in particular. 
Thanks to then Mesa College Professor Elizabeth "Liz" Hamilton, who first proffered
the invitation to Parks, our campus and District are forever linked to the memory
of Parks and her legacy of courage.

This virtual event, held on Rosa Parks' birthday, is a fitting time to remember her,
and to reaffirm our own commitment to social justice. The event will be hosted by
Dr. Thekima Mayasa and Professor Sade Burrell.

Registration is required. REGISTER HERE.

All events are free and open to the public. For more information email Dr. Thekima
Mayasa at tmayasa@sdccd.edu.

This press release was produced by San Diego Community College District. The views expressed here are the author’s own.