“Rosa sat so others could stand.”

This phrase was on display at the 12th annual Rosa Parks Breakfast on Feb. 10 at the Greater Mount Triumph Missionary Baptist Church in Atmore.

The breakfast is held each year to honor and celebrate the life and work of Parks, which is considered the mother of the modern day civil rights movement in the country.

On an Alabama bus on Dec. 1, 1955, she refused to give up her seat to a white passenger. Her action reverberated throughout the United States at the time, according to a pamphlet provided at the breakfast.

“Her hands were aching; her back was hurting after working all day,” Dr. Ullysses McBride said of Parks. “She just sat down.”

Parks was quoted as saying, “I had no idea that history was being made. I was just tired of giving up.”

McBride introduced the keynote speaker, Tuskegee Mayor Lawrence F. “Tony” Haygood Jr.

Haygood spoke about current times and correlated the legacy of Parks to what needs to be done today.

“We’ve got a lot of work to do,” he said. “Like Parks, somebody has got to step up and do it.”

Haygood also spoke about President Donald Trump’s tactics that led to his nomination and eventual win.

Haygood said to be sure to let one’s faith be bigger than their fear.

Other activities at the breakfast included a presentation of awards, prizes and a parting word from breakfast organizer Lillie Johnson.