In a press conference held Wednesday, civil rights advocate and legend Rosa Parks announced that Centro’s effort to memorialize her courageous activism was “a good effort” but “pretty lame overall.”
Every Centro bus has a sort-of-fake-gold-looking oval sticker peeling off over a seat on the right side of the vehicle, proclaiming that seat to be dedicated in honor of Rosa Parks. On December 1, 1955, Ms. Parks refused an order to give up her seat for a white person, in protest of the segregationist policies inherent in the Deep South at the time. These events sparked the famous Montgomery, Alabama bus boycott, a landmark moment in the civil rights movement of the 50s and 60s.
“Look, if you think that civil rights for all races is worth a sticker, that’s fine. That’s just fine by me. Just shows a lot about you as a public transit system, I guess.
“I don’t want to sound ungrateful. I appreciate the thought. But come on. I couldn’t get a statue? A plaque? Anything? All I get is a couple stickers? Thanks guys. No really, thank you. That’s really a moving tribute.
“I appreciate the buses of Syracuse standing with me now, knowing as we do what a hotbed of institutionalized racism the Central New York area is in the 21st century. Brave gesture, folks. I’m touched.”
When asked to comment, a Centro bus said “Route 344. South Campus. Welcome aboard, and please watch your step.”
