February 23, 1995
The line snaked from the Main Gym's entrance, through Malcolm X Plaza, past the library and onto 19th Avenue.
Thousands of people of all races and age groups congregated at SF State yesterday to get a glimpse of and hear Rosa Parks, "the mother of the civil rights movement."
Parks' refusal to give up her bus seat to a white man in 1955 not only sparked the civil rights movement, but it also sparked the standing ovation and cheers of pride she received yesterday when she was led to the stage.
"Looking at her, we know -- we know -- that one person can make a difference," President Robert A. Corrigan said to the crowd.
The sound of stomping feet vibrated the gym. Audience members chanted Parks' name and stretched their arms out as if to say, "amen."
"Brothers and sisters, we are living history," the Rev. Cecil Williams of the San Francisco Glide Memorial Church said. "The mother of the civil rights movement is here!"
Parks is the first speaker for the Student Affairs Programming Committee's annual program, "Achievers Against the Odds." This year's program marked the 40th anniversary of the Montgomery bus boycott with singing, a reenactment of the incident by the Meadows-Livingstone School student actors and a speech by Parks.
"Achievers Against the Odds" is designed to bring people who have overcome obstacles to the campus. The program is the brainchild of Penny Saffold, vice president of student affairs, who introduced Parks to the audience.
"The theme 'Achievers Against the Odds' is particularly appropriate for this campus," Saffold told the audience. Referring to anti-affirmative action legislation, Saffold said, "Our guest today reminds us that we must not, must not, must not let this happen.
"I can't imagine anyone else who embodies achievement against the odds," Saffold added.
When Parks walked to the podium, the audience gave her another standing ovation. With a wide smile on her face, she said, "I'm glad to know that here, at this university, you have the spirit of equality."
Parks told the audience that she plans to write more books. Her latest book, "Quiet Strength," was put on the New York Times' best seller list yesterday.
"I will continue to work as long as I possibly can," said Parks, who turned 82 this month. She will appear for a book signing at Marcus Bookstore in Oakland at 7 p.m. tomorrow.
Although she only spoke to the crowd for a couple of minutes, she left a lasting impression on some audience members.
"She was fabulous," senior psychology major Maria Talamantes said. "She did a little speech that was good. It's not so much the speech, it's what she stands for. She is so tiny and yet so powerful."
University of San Francisco law student Gary Anderson agreed and said, "Her (Parks') presence said it all."
"The speech was shorter than I expected," speech and communications senior Jennifer Pagnini said. "But I thought it was inspiring. It's nice to see more women speakers on campus."
Students weren't the only ones affected by Parks' presence.
"I really enjoyed it," said Marsha Morrow, a San Francisco attorney and mother of two Meadows-Livingstone School student actors. "It was really inspiring being able to see someone my children have only heard about in school."
The student actors from Meadows-Livingstone School, a private school in San Francisco, set up chairs in the middle of the stage to simulate a bus. The students reenacted Parks' refusal to give up her seat to a white man, and the arrest that followed.
"We practiced all day and the week before," said Adam Morrow, a 10-year-old actor from Meadows-Livingstone School.
"I thought it was good to have the young people involved with the program," said arts and fashion design junior Erin Case. "I didn't get those opportunities when I was a kid."