Michigan Legislators Celebrate Unveiling of Rosa Parks Statue in Washington

Michigan legislators were among members of Congress and President Barack Obama Wednesday to witness the unveiling of a statue of Rosa Parks at the U.S. Capitol.

The monument to the civil rights pioneer sits in Statuary Hall in Washington, D.C.

Rep. John Dingell, D-District 12, commented that the statue "honors an American hero that sat defiantly in the face of injustice."

"While the bravery and strength of Ms. Rosa Parks has lived on in the fight for equality since that December day in 1955," he said in a statement, "I believe that this statue will serve as a reminder for all who visit our nation’s capital of both the progress made, and the work still left to be done."

Rep. Tim Walberg, R-District 7, echoed Dingell's comments.

"It was a privilege to gather with my colleagues from the Michigan delegation to mark the unveiling of the Rosa Parks statue in the U.S. Capitol," Walberg said. "Her courage and strength continues to inspire us today."

Parks is known as an activist who helped lead the civil rights movement, beginning with her refusal to move from her seat on a Montgomery, AL, bus on Dec. 1, 1955. That bus now sits inside of the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn as part of a permanent exhibit.

Parks—who was also given the Congressional Gold Medal—spent the latter half of her life as a resident of Detroit, where she stayed until her passing in 2005.

Dingell thanked Parks for her continued work in the Detroit area.

“She came to Detroit to continue her work for equality, and for that we are a better people," he said. "It is my belief that if we continue as a people with even the slightest bit of courage and conviction that Ms. Parks held so dearly, we can end all forms of discrimination and hate that still plague this great nation.”