Houston METRO buses don't join in national tribute to Rosa Parks

(12/1/05 - KTRK/HOUSTON) (KTRK) -- Fifty years ago a seamstress in Montgomery, Alabama, refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white man. It was an action that many consider to be the launching point for the civil rights movement.

Transit authorities all over the country honored Parks on Thursday in various ways. In Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin, and Corpus Christi, they left an open seat on their buses. But Houston METRO did nothing on Thursday.

Rodnessa Dukes is a METRO bus rider. She says that without Rosa Parks her life would be a lot different.

"If not for her, I would still be sitting on the back of the bus," Dukes said.

So she and others are taken aback that on the 50th anniversary of Parks' historic stand, METRO would not honor her as many transit authorities are doing.

Dukes said, "It's a disservice to everybody who fought for civil rights for her not to get a reserved seat."

Another METRO rider said, "I mean, we can't do nothing about it, but that just goes to show that they ain't showing no respect for her and I don't appreciate it."

"She's like a legend, you know," a rider said.

We also spoke with Yolanda Smith with the Houston chapter of the NAACP, and she says she doesn't know METRO's finances and if it could afford to reserve a single seat on every bus. But she does say it is a little bit insensitive.

But METRO officials contend they are not being insensitive. And they point out that just last month they honored Parks with pictures of her in every one of its 1,200 buses.

"We got a great deal of positive support from riders who complimented us on that and we felt that was really a moving but dignified tribute for her and what she did," said METRO's Raequel Roberts.

METRO says doing something Thursday to honor Parks was discussed, but the organization felt it had already honored her in a respectful way. But Dukes, at least, felt differently.

She asked, "Why not take a day and revere her?"

There can't be too much respect for a woman such as Rosa Parks.
(Copyright © 2005, KTRK-TV)

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