Political Quotes

“First is that she developed this theory that applies to every human being that struggles for justice: "I am only one person, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something." For her to sit down on the bus that day was an enormously courageous act that still thrills the world when they realize this seamstress had determined what she would do, not with Dr. King, not with the civil rights movement, not with the NAACP, not with anyone. Secondly, she, by her act, brought Dr. King into the movement, and we will have more on that very shortly. But that an oppressed people could take upon themselves to change the de jure and de facto status of race relations by their own action was thought to be impossible by many at that time. Finally, it was the theory of nonviolence that a woman faced with violent oppressors could say, "You can do whatever you want." Remember, the bus driver begged her to please sit down. And the theory of nonviolence later enunciated by Dr. Martin Luther King makes the Gold Medal a very appropriate response to her today.”