Beatty Bill Honors Rosa Parks’ Legacy With Commemorative Coins
Washington, DC — Today, on the birthday of civil rights icon Rosa Parks, Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (OH-03) introduced the Rosa Parks Commemorative Coin Act to honor her life and legacy with commemorative coins bearing her image. This legislation comes as the nation approaches the 70th anniversary of Parks’ courageous act on December 1, 1955, when she refused to give up her seat on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama. That single act sparked the 381-day Montgomery Bus Boycott, a pivotal movement that helped dismantle segregation and marked a historic chapter in the African American fight for social justice.
"Rosa Parks was more than one moment—she was a lifelong warrior for justice, a leader in the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and a champion for voting rights," said Congresswoman Beatty. "In 2005, I authored legislation to make Ohio the first state to designate December 1, the day of her arrest, as Rosa Parks Day—a bipartisan tribute that has since engaged thousands of children, educators, and communities. These commemorative coins are another opportunity to share her story, reflect on her impact, and inspire future generations across the nation to carry forward her fight for justice. As America nears its 250th birthday, we must honor not only our founding fathers but also the mothers of our democracy—women like Rosa Parks, who moved us toward a more perfect union."
A lifelong activist, Rosa Parks received our nation’s highest honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal, and was the first woman to lie in honor in the U.S. Capitol. Her statue in Statuary Hall stands as a lasting tribute to her indelible mark on American history.
The Rosa Parks Commemorative Coin Act directs the Department of the Treasury to mint and issue—at no cost to taxpayers—$5 gold coins, $1 silver coins, and half-dollar clad coins bearing Parks’ image and emblematic of her legacy. Surcharges collected from coin sales will be directed to the Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self Development to support its mission of youth development and civil rights education.
The legislation is cosponsored by: Reps. Alma Adams (NC-12), Gabe Amo (RI-01), Wesley Bell (MO-01), Sanford Bishop (GA-02), Shontel Brown (OH-11), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Janelle Bynum (OR-05), André Carson (IN-07), Sean Casten (IL-06), Troy Carter (LA-02), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05), Jim Clyburn (SC-06), Herb Conaway (NJ-03), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Danny Davis (IL-07), Don Davis (NC-01), Cleo Fields (LA-06), Shomari Figures (AL-02), Valerie Foushee (NC-04), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), Dan Goldman (NY-10), Al Green (TX-09), Raul Grijalva (AZ-07), Jahanna Hayes (CT-05), Steven Horsford (NV-04), Glenn Ivey (MD-04), Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Hank Johnson (GA-04), Julie Johnson (TX-32), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Robin Kelly (IL-2), Tim Kennedy (NY-26), Summer Lee (PA-12), Stephen Lynch (MA-08), Lucy McBath (GA-06), Jennifer McClellan (VA-04), LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Greg Meeks (NY-05), Gwen Moore (WI-04), Joe Neguse (CO-02), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Stacey Plaskett (VI), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Bobby Scott (VA-03), Terri Sewell (AL-07), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), Haley Stevens (MI-11), Emilia Sykes (OH-13), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Bennie Thompson (MS-02), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Sylvester Turner (TX-18), Lauren Underwood (IL-04), Juan Vargas (CA-52), Marc Veasey (TX-33), Maxine Waters (CA-43), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), and Nikema Williams (GA-05).
Click HERE to read the full bill text.
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For press inquiries, please contact christine.thompson@mail.house.gov and cassandra.johnson@mail.house.gov.