Senator John A. DeFrancisco (R-I-C-WF, Syracuse) is excited to announce that his bill (S6879) for a special initiative that students from Van Duyn Elementary School came up with, is on the New York State Senate's calendar for passage today. Marnie Coggins and her 4th grade class will be in Albany when the Senate votes on Senator DeFrancisco's bill to honor Rosa Parks, who is considered the mother of the civil rights movement.

"These are wonderful students and I applaud them for sending me letters requesting legislation to honor a truly remarkable women," said Senator DeFrancisco. "The bill would permit and encourage bus companies in New York State to leave one seat empty on all buses on Rosa Parks Day. This legislation would serve to remind people about the tremendous impact Rosa Parks had on the civil rights movement. Thanks to these students, her courage and inspiration will be remembered every year on Rosa Parks Day."

This bill would ensure that Rosa Parks is honored for the brave stand she took on December 1, 1955 when she refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery, Alabama bus in protest of racial segregation. Her act of courage started the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which was one of the largest movements in the fight against racial segregation.