2023 -- H 5406

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LC001420

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

PROCLAIMING FEBRUARY 4, 2023, AS “TRANSIT EQUITY DAY” IN THE STATE OF

RHODE ISLAND IN HONOR OF ROSA PARKS AND HER HISTORIC FIGHT FOR

EQUITABLE PUBLIC TRANSIT

     Introduced By: Representatives Morales, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Chippendale, Tanzi,
Fogarty, Shallcross Smith, Ajello, Kennedy, and Kislak

     Date Introduced: February 07, 2023

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, Transit Equity Day is the collaborative effort of Civil Rights Leaders,

Environmental Organizations, Labor Unions and Laborers who are working together to bring

awareness about the critical importance that robust public transportation has to all members of

our community and to galvanize people to support equitable and sustainable public transit; and

     WHEREAS, The day chosen for this event is the birthday of Rosa Parks, an iconic figure

during the civil rights movement for refusing to give up her seat on the bus, and thus signifies the

connection between her act of resistance to the essential need to fight for a truly equitable transit

system and the rights of all people to high-quality public transportation; and

     WHEREAS, To honor and celebrate Rosa Parks’ life and legacy, many public transit

systems across the country have reserved a seat in respect of this civil rights hero with a rose and

her picture occupying an empty seat on public buses; and

     WHEREAS, Public transit provides basic mobility for many in our communities. It is

also as essential an urban infrastructure as are roads, bridges, tunnels and utilities, and is crucial

to the economic, social and environmental well-being of our State; and

     WHEREAS, Investments in the public transit workforce, in addition to providing better

service, boosts local economies, expands opportunity and racial equity, and increases

environmental sustainability by reducing climate emissions; and

     WHEREAS, Affordable public transit, that reliably connects people in all communities to

their home, work, school, places of worship, shopping, health, and recreation, in an efficient,

sustainable and timely manner, is crucial to the economic growth of this State and to ensure that

no community, regardless of income, national origin, race, gender identity, sexual orientation,

age, religion, or ability, is left behind; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby

proclaims February 4, 2023, as “Transit Equity Day” in honor of Rosa Parks and to bring

awareness to the public to support equitable and sustainable public transit; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Rhode Island Department of

Administration, RIPTA, the RI Transit Riders, the George Wiley Center, Grow Smart RI, and

Labor 4 Sustainability.

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