Russ Feingold: “this year, as we celebrate Black History Month, we also mourn the loss of two great civil rights leaders: Rosa Parks and…”

“this year, as we celebrate Black History Month, we also mourn the loss of two great civil rights leaders: Rosa Parks and Coretta Scott King. These women were both pivotal figures in the civil rights movement, leaders who inspired all of us with their commitment, their dignity, and their incredible courage. Both dedicated their lives to the cause of freedom--to ridding the South of the cruelty of segregation and ridding our society of the scourge of racism. Both lived to see tremendous progress in America and both lived to see how much is still left undone. As we mourn the passing of these heroic figures of the civil rights movement, we must ensure that the cause of justice for which they worked so hard, and sacrificed so much--marches on. As we mourn these great leaders, and celebrate their lives, we must also ask ourselves what we can do to honor the contributions they made, and the way they worked to transform our Nation. I am reminded of something Rosa Parks once said about Dr. King. She was concerned that, while the birthday of Dr. King had become a national holiday, he was being depicted as merely, ``a dreamer.'' As I remember him,'' she said, ``he was more than a dreamer. He was an activist who believed in acting as well as speaking out against oppression.'' Once again, Rosa Parks was right: It is not only Dr. King's dream that endures, although it does endure, and has given strength to so many. It is the actions of Dr.…”