Rosa Parks Day could become a new federal holiday
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U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Selma, has proposed a bill that would make Dec. 1 a federal holiday commemorating the arrest of Rosa Parks.
Sewell bill has the backing of the Congressional Black Caucus. The Rosa Parks Day Act is the first bill that Sewell introduced in the 118th Congress.
December 1 marks the 68th anniversary of Parks' arrest on Dec. 1, 1955, for refusing to give up her seat to a white passenger on a public bus. Her arrest sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott that spurred on the Civil Rights Movement and sent ripples across the world.
Rosa Parks Day would mark the first federal holiday to honor a woman.
More: Events for Rosa Parks Day Montgomery events honor Rosa Parks Day and 68th anniversary of Bus Boycott
List of federally recognized holidays for 2024
Jan. 1 - New Year's Day
Jan. 15 - Birthday of Martin Luther King Jr.
Feb. 19 - Washington's Birthday
May 27 - Memorial Day
June 19 - Juneteenth National Independence Day
July 4 - Independence Day
Sept. 2 - Labor Day
Oct. 14 - Columbus Day
Nov. 11 - Veteran's Day
Nov. 28 - Thanksgiving
Dec. 25 - Christmas
Juneteenth is the most recent holiday to become federally recognized. President Joe Biden made Juneteenth a federal holiday in 2021. Before that the last time the nation created a federal holiday was Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which became a federal holiday in 1983.
Alex Gladden is the Montgomery Advertiser's public safety reporter. She can be reached at agladden@gannett.com or on Twitter @gladlyalex.
This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Terri Sewell proposes bill to make Rosa Parks Day a federal holiday
