Wednesday, November 02, 2005

Godspeed, Rosa Parks

Thousands gathered today in person and millions more in spirit to say goodbye to Rosa Parks.

Bishop Charles Ellis III of Greater Grace Temple led the service for 4,000 people packed in to say goodbye to the diminutive figure who sparked a civil rights revolution by refusing 50 years ago to give up her seat on a bus in Montgomery, Ala.

"Mother Parks, take your rest. You have certainly earned it," Ellis said.

Mourners waited in long lines in the chilly morning to honor Parks. Hours before the funeral began, the line to get one of the 2,000 available public seats at the church extended more than two blocks west in Parks' adopted hometown.

Claudette Bond, 62, had been waiting since 6 p.m. Tuesday in a lawn chair. She was first in line and didn't budge, even as temperatures dipped below 40 degrees.

"This will never happen again. There will never be another Rosa Parks," said Moses Fisher, a Nashville, Tenn., resident waiting for the chance to get a seat.

No, there certainly won't.


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