Kaori Rodríguez Rodríguez

ROSA PARKS (INTERVIEW)

Reporter: Hello, to everyone watching. Today, we have with us the mother of the
right civil movement, with us Rosa Parks!!! (applauses)

Rosa Park: Oh my god (excited) I’m so glad to be here!!!

Reporter: Well, that’s great Rosa. Let’s start with the straw that broke the camel's
back. Tell us about it (intrigued) What made you decide not to get up from your seat?

Rosa Park: I still remember that evening, it was December 1, 1955 when I boarded
the bus to go home after a long day working, I look up, and walk at the back of the
bus, for the ¨colored¨ people to sit in. We were not disturbed until the third stop, when
a few white people boarded the bus, and one of them was left standing. When the
driver notices a white man standing, he spoke to all the colored people at the back to
stand up, so the white man could have the seat. As I remember there were just four of
us. Three of them stand up following orders, but I didn’t.

At the moment, that the driver saw I was still sitting there, he said would I stand up,
and I said ¨ No, I will not¨. After my response, he said ¨ I´ll have you arrested¨. I told him
he could do that, then several black people left the bus and the driver didn´t move the
bus any further.

Subsequently, in matter of minutes two policemen got on the bus. The driver told
them every detail about my disobey and walked down and ask me why I didn’t stand
up, my response was simply and significant ¨I didn’t think I should stand up. Why do
you push us around?

¨I don’t know. But the law is the law and you are under arrest¨ he answered. As soon
as, he talked I stood up and the three of us left the bus, their squad car was waiting
outside the bus. One of them opened the back door for me to enter.

It was the first time something like that happen to me, however I was determined to
let it be known that I didn’t want to be treated in that manner, it wasn’t just fair.

Reporter: OH MY GOD!! ROSA YOU ARE SO BRAVE. Did you know that you were
going to jail if you didn’t give up your seat?

Rosa Parks: I knew I was going to jail since the driver said he was going to arrested
me. Obviously, I didn’t feel great going to jail, but as I said before I was determined to
let known that under this type of segregation black people had endured too much.

Reporter: After going to jail. What happened?

Rosa Parks: To be honest, a lot of important things happen. As a result of my arrest,
a lot of social movements start going on. Gloriously, after one year of fighting against
segregations laws, on November, 13 of 1956. WE GET IT. The supreme court ruled
that bus segregation was unconstitutional.
Kaori Rodríguez Rodríguez

Reporter: And what did you do next?

Rosa Parks: Well… after all this I lost my job. Nevertheless, I get to be called the
mother of the right civil movement, and it just inspired me to keep fighting against
injustices laws for black people.

Reporter: I know one day you are going to get equality between both races Rosa.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR COMING. (smiling and applauses)