John Conyers: “I thank the floor leader, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Millender-McDonald), for her kindness and her leadership…”

“I thank the floor leader, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Millender-McDonald), for her kindness and her leadership; and I, of course, am very proud that the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Ehlers) is leading this concurrent resolution on the other side of the aisle. I am happy to also see my colleague, the honorable gentlewoman from Detroit, Michigan (Ms. Kilpatrick) and, of course, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Lewis), the chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, the gentlewoman from Indiana (Ms. Carson), and many others here on the floor. Both leaders on both sides of the aisle have aptly described the phenomenal career, activities, and legacy that Rosa Parks leaves behind. It is only my task to tell my colleagues as the one who knows her better than anybody in the Congress about the indomitable spirit of Rosa Louise Parks, that is to say, that there were two parts to Rosa Louise Parks. One was her calm, respectful, dignified exterior. She was a very humble woman. She always spoke in a very calm voice. I can say I have never seen her angry or in a debate mode in her life. She has never gotten into any argument, and I use this analogy as carefully as I can, but she reminds me of what I think Mother Teresa was like. I mean, she had her own sphere of serenity; and yet, at the same time, there were three things that she was extremely deeply connected and committed to.…”