MONTGOMERY, Ala. — On Friday, the Alabama Capitol will host the unveiling of statues honoring Rosa Parks and Helen Keller, two remarkable women who significantly impacted social justice and disability rights. These monuments represent the first female figures to adorn the Capitol grounds, which have historically celebrated links to the Confederacy.
Rosa Parks, revered as the 'mother of the modern civil rights movement,' sparked the boycott of Montgomery's segregated bus system by refusing to give up her seat to a white passenger in 1955. Her courageous act propelled the civil rights movement forward.
In contrast, Helen Keller, born blind and deaf, triumphed over her disabilities to become a renowned author, activist, and lecturer, advocating for various social causes including labor rights and women’s suffrage.
This unveiling marks a crucial milestone in acknowledging the part women have played in Alabama's rich history. Representative Laura Hall, who introduced the legislation for these statues, underscores the importance of representing women's contributions throughout Alabama’s narrative.
The statues will be positioned strategically, with Parks' statue gazing towards the same street where she boarded the historic bus. The Keller statue will face the Alabama Statehouse, further enriching the Capitol's landscape with representations of women's history. The Alabama Women’s Tribute Statue Commission has worked diligently over the past six years to bring these memorials to fruition.
