The Republican National Committee backtracked on Sunday after sending out a cringeworthy tweet meant to honor Rosa Parks on the 58th anniversary of her arrest after refusing to give up her bus seat to a white man in Alabama.
The tweet, which was almost immediately mocked and denounced, also declared that Parks had helped "end" racism in the U.S.:
Today we remember Rosa Parks’ bold stand and her role in ending racism. pic.twitter.com/uxIj1QmtkU
— RNC (@GOP) December 1, 2013About four hours later, the RNC clarified:
Previous tweet should have read "Today we remember Rosa Parks' bold stand and her role in fighting to end racism."
— RNC (@GOP) December 1, 2013Indeed, most Americans wouldn't agree with the characterization that racism no longer exists in the U.S.
A May 2013 survey from the Pew Research Center found that 88% of blacks and 57% of whites felt that there is at least "some" discrimination toward African-Americans. And as recently as a 2008 Gallup survey (before President Barack Obama's election), a plurality of white, Latino, and African-Americans felt that racism against blacks was "widespread."