Niece of Rosa Parks honors legacy

A multinational crowd of more than 300 students, some from area high schools, as well as faculty members and local elected officials filled Scibelli Hall at Springfield Technical Community College on Dec. 1 to commemorate the legacy of Rosa Parks, legendary civil rights leader.

From left: Catherine Donaghy, Rhea McCauley, the niece of Rosa Parks and Nicholas Camerota on Dec. 1. Photo: STCC

Dr. Arlene Rodriguez, the first Latin@ dean of the college, moderated the second annual Rosa Parks Day celebration and expressed her belief that the event “was likely to become a tradition” at the college.

Keynote speaker Rhea McCauley, the niece of Rosa Parks, declared her hope that Dec. 1 would become a national holiday in recognition of her aunt. Reflecting on her recent trip to Boston, she said that the Boston Rosa Parks Human Rights Day Committee, along with the STCC annual event, made Massachusetts “a spearhead for what will be a movement against racism and social and economic injustices across the country.”

Nicholas Camerota, vice-president of the STCC Professional Association and co-chair of the Springfield Rosa Parks Day Organizing Committee, addressed the “heavy burdens placed on the students as they struggle to pay their bills while studying to earn their diplomas,” and stressed the need for more funding for public education. The committee is a partnership between the college and the community.

E. Henry Twiggs, co-chair of the committee, received an award for his efforts from the campus union. He stated that the committee was attempting to have Dec. 1 observed annually by the college as Rosa Parks Day.

Remarks were made by the spouse of Massachusetts governor-elect Deval Patrick, attorney Diane Patrick, who was invited by the STCC Professional Association to speak at the event. Showing their support and participation in the event, nearly 1,000 STCC students had signed a statement supporting the campus union’s invitation.

Both Patrick and McCauley related personal incidents of racial bigotry, and Patrick urged the audience to “not remain silent in the face of hate anymore. ... This is the lesson that history has taught us.”