THIRD READING 

Bill No: ACR 156

Author: Cooper (D), et al.

Amended: 2/3/20 in Assembly

Vote: 21

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: Read and adopted, 2/6/20

SUBJECT: Rosa Parks Day in California: 20th Anniversary

SOURCE: Black Agriculture Association

DIGEST:

This resolution memorializes the achievements of Rosa Parks in the Civil Rights Movement and commemorates the 20th Anniversary of Rosa Parks Day in California on February 4, 2020.

ANALYSIS: This resolution makes the following legislative findings:

1. Rosa Parks dedicated her life to the cause of human rights and truly embodied the love of humanity and freedom.
2. In September 1944, Rosa Parks boldly investigated the abduction and gang rape of Recy Taylor, a then 24-year-old mother and rural agriculture sharecropper walking home from church. The unprosecuted crime received extensive coverage and brought attention to the history of racial violence, particularly against women in the Deep South. Rosa Parks founded the “Committee for Equal Justice for Mrs. Recy Taylor”, but still faltered under the weight of entrenched Alabama bigotry.
3. Rosa Parks, “Patron Saint” for the Women’s Political Council of Montgomery, Alabama, was arrested on December 1, 1955, for refusing to give up her seat on a bus to a white man, and her stand for equal rights became legendary.
4. Rosa Parks’ arrest for refusing to comply with Montgomery’s segregation law was the impetus for a boycott of Montgomery buses, led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., by approximately 42,000 African Americans for 381 days.
5. The Montgomery Bus Boycott was the seminal event of the Civil Rights Movement when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on the Browder vs. Gayle (1956) case, that Montgomery’s segregation law was unconstitutional, and on December 20, 1956, Montgomery officials were ordered to desegregate buses.
6. Rosa Parks is honored as the “Mother of the Modern Day Civil Rights Movement,” because her refusal to surrender her seat in compliance with Montgomery’s segregation law inspired the civil rights movement, which has resulted in the breakdown of numerous legal barriers and the lessening of profound discrimination against African Americans in this country.
7. The courage and conviction of Rosa Parks laid the foundation for equal rights for all Americans and for the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

This resolution officially remembers celebrating Rosa Parks on her birthday, Friday, February 4, 2000, and on this 20th Anniversary, Tuesday, February 4, 2020, urges all residents to pay homage to this great American woman.

Related/Prior Legislation

ACR 116 (Wesson, Resolution Chapter 15, Statutes of 2000) proclaimed Rosa Park’s birthday, Friday, February 4, 2000, and the first Monday following February 4 of each subsequent year, as Rosa Parks Day in California.

FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: No Local: No

SUPPORT: (Verified 2/18/20)

Black Agriculture Association (source)

OPPOSITION: (Verified 2/18/20)

None received

ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT: The author states, “ACR 156 declares February 4th, 2020 as the ‘20th anniversary of Rosa Parks Day in California’.

“Born on February 4th, 1913, Mrs. Parks would later be deemed the ‘patron saint’ and one of America’s pioneers of the civil rights movement, after she refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white man, resulting in her arrest, which spurred the beginning of the civil rights movement.

“After that historic day, Rosa Parks dedicated her entire life to human rights and equality for all.

“On Friday, February 4th, 2000, the Legislature officially celebrated Rosa Parks Day on her birthday for her life’s achievements and as a way to pay tribute to the American civil rights movement.

“ACR 156 commemorates the 20th anniversary of Rosa Parks Day, and pays further homage to this great American woman.”

Prepared by: Melissa Ward / SFA / (916) 651-1520

2/19/20 14:03:02

**** END ****

ASSEMBLY THIRD READING

ATR Bill Id:ACR 156

Author:(Cooper)

As Amended Ver:February 3, 2020

Majority vote

SUMMARY:

Commemorates February 4, 2020, as the 20th Anniversary of Rosa Parks Day in California and memorializes the achievements of Rosa Parks in the Civil Rights Movement.

Major Provisions

1. Rosa Parks was born on February 4, 1913, in Tuskegee, Alabama, the first child of James and Leona (Edwards) McCauley; and, Parks attended the Industrial School for Girls in Montgomery, Alabama, and a secondary education led by the Alabama State Teachers College for Negroes. She left school in her senior year to attend to her sick grandmother and mother in rural Alabama.
2. In September 1944, Rosa Parks boldly investigated the abduction and gang rape of Recy Taylor, a then 24-year-old mother and rural agriculture sharecropper walking home from church. The unprosecuted crime received extensive coverage and brought attention to the history of racial violence, particularly against women in the Deep South. Rosa Parks founded the "Committee for Equal Justice for Mrs. Recy Taylor" with the support of W.E.B. Du Bois, Mary Church Terrell, and Langston Hughes, among others, but still faltered under the weight of entrenched Alabama bigotry.
3. Rosa Parks, "Patron Saint" for the Women's Political Council of Montgomery, Alabama, was arrested on December 1, 1955, for refusing to give up her seat on a bus to a white man, and her stand for equal rights became legendary.
4. Rosa Parks' arrest for refusing to comply with Montgomery's segregation law was the impetus for a boycott of Montgomery buses, led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., by approximately 42,000 African Americans for 381 days.
5. The Montgomery Bus Boycott was the seminal event of the Civil Rights Movement when the United States Supreme Court ruled on the Browder vs. Gayle (1956) 142 F.Supp. 707 case, that Montgomery's segregation law was unconstitutional, and on December 20, 1956, Montgomery officials were ordered to desegregate buses.
6. Rosa Parks is honored as the "Mother of the Modern Day Civil Rights Movement," because her refusal to surrender her seat in compliance with Montgomery's segregation law inspired the civil rights movement, which has resulted in the breakdown of numerous legal barriers and the lessening of profound discrimination against African Americans in this country.
7. Rosa Parks dedicated her life to the cause of human rights and truly embodied the love of humanity and freedom.

COMMENTS:

The proposed technical amendments correct a drafting error in the resolved clause of the resolution.

According to the Author:

ACR 156 will celebrate and memorialize the achievements of Rosa Parks and her long lasting legacy as a civil rights pioneer. No one knew that on February 4, 1913 that one of America's most influential civil rights leaders was born. Parks grew up in Alabama and over time became increasingly active in Civil Rights issues. Later deemed the "Patron Saint" for the Women's Political Council of Montgomery, Alabama; Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a bus to a white man and her stand for equal rights became legendary and began the American Civil Rights Movement. As the author of ACR 156, I urge the citizens of the Great State of California to honor and memorialize the achievements of Rosa Parks.

Arguments in Support:

None on file

Arguments in Opposition:

None on file

FISCAL COMMENTS:

No fiscal impact

VOTES:

ASM RULES: 10-0-2

YES: Cooley, Cunningham, Flora, Grayson, Kamlager, Maienschein, Mathis, Ramos, Robert  Rivas, Wicks

ABS, ABST OR NV: Carrillo, Quirk-Silva

UPDATED:

VERSION: January 28, 2020

CONSULTANT: Nicole Willis / RLS. / (916) 319-2800 FN: 0002686

Date of Hearing: January 30, 2020

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON RULES

Ken Cooley, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:ACR 156 (

Author:Cooper) – As Introduced Ver:January 28, 2020

SUBJECT: Rosa Parks Day in California: 20th Anniversary.

SUMMARY: Commemorates February 4, 2020, as the 20th Anniversary of Rosa Parks Day in California and memorializes the achievements of Rosa Parks in the Civil Rights Movement. Specifically, this resolution makes the following legislative findings:

1. Rosa Parks was born on February 4, 1913, in Tuskegee, Alabama, the first child of James and Leona (Edwards) McCauley; and, Parks attended the Industrial School for Girls in Montgomery, Alabama, and a secondary education led by the Alabama State Teachers College for Negroes. She left school in her senior year to attend to her sick grandmother and mother in rural Alabama.
2. In September 1944, Rosa Parks boldly investigated the abduction and gang rape of Recy Taylor, a then 24-year-old mother and rural agriculture sharecropper walking home from church. The unprosecuted crime received extensive coverage and brought attention to the history of racial violence, particularly against women in the Deep South. Rosa Parks founded the “Committee for Equal Justice for Mrs. Recy Taylor” with the support of W.E.B. Du Bois, Mary Church Terrell, and Langston Hughes, among others, but still faltered under the weight of entrenched Alabama bigotry.
3. Rosa Parks, “Patron Saint” for the Women’s Political Council of Montgomery, Alabama, was arrested on December 1, 1955, for refusing to give up her seat on a bus to a white man, and her stand for equal rights became legendary.
4. Rosa Parks’ arrest for refusing to comply with Montgomery’s segregation law was the impetus for a boycott of Montgomery buses, led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., by approximately 42,000 African Americans for 381 days.
5. The Montgomery Bus Boycott was the seminal event of the Civil Rights Movement when the United States Supreme Court ruled on the Browder vs. Gayle (1956) 142 F.Supp. 707 case, that Montgomery’s segregation law was unconstitutional, and on December 20, 1956, Montgomery officials were ordered to desegregate buses.
6. Rosa Parks is honored as the “Mother of the Modern Day Civil Rights Movement,” because her refusal to surrender her seat in compliance with Montgomery’s segregation law inspired the civil rights movement, which has resulted in the breakdown of numerous legal barriers and the lessening of profound discrimination against African Americans in this country.
7. Rosa Parks dedicated her life to the cause of human rights and truly embodied the love of humanity and freedom.

COMMENTS: The proposed technical amendments correct a drafting error in the resolved clause of the resolution.

FISCAL EFFECT: None

REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:

Support

None on file

Opposition

None on file

Analysis Prepared by: Nicole Willis / RLS. / (916) 319-2800