I was hoping that this would happen.
From Salon.com (you may have to watch an ad to get it free for one day):
Black civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks would become the first woman to lie in honor in the Capitol Rotunda under resolutions considered Thursday by lawmakers.
Parks’ refusal to give up her bus seat to a white man in Montgomery, Ala., in 1955 led to a 381-day boycott of the city’s bus system and helped spark the modern civil rights movement. She died Monday in Detroit at age 92.
The Senate approved a resolution Thursday allowing her remains to lie in honor in the Rotunda on Sunday and Monday “so that the citizens of the United States may pay their last respects to this great American.” The House was expected to consider the resolution Friday.
Of course, only former presidents, sitting presidents who die in office, members of Congress and military commanders are given this honor.
Additionally, Parks will lie in repose not only in Detroit but in other locations. Rep. John Conyers, who was once Parks’ employer, and Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick have sponsored the bill allowing for Parks to lie in state. They are also working in conjunction with the Rosa & Raymond Parks Institute for Self Development in making these funeral arrangements.
The Capitol event was one of several planned to honor the civil rights pioneer. Parks will lie in repose Saturday at the St. Paul AME Church in Montgomery, Ala., and a memorial service will be held at the church Sunday morning.
Following her viewing in the Capitol, a memorial service was planned for Monday at St. Paul AME Church in Washington.
From Monday night until Wednesday morning, Parks will lie in repose at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit. Her funeral will be Wednesday at Greater Grace Temple Church in Detroit.
All of these events will be opportunities to bear witness.
Update [2005-10-28 15:41:56 by blksista]: The House did approve, by voice vote, the lying in state of Mrs. Rosa Parks in the Capitol Rotunda.
Update [2005-10-28 20:2:37 by blksista]: The singer Aretha Franklin will sing at her funeral at the Greater Grace Temple Church in Detroit on Wednesday. Franklin also sang at Martin Luther King, Jr.’s funeral in 1968.
