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"
Today we remember Rosa Parks' bold stand and her role in ending racism. pic.twitter.com/uxIj1QmtkU
- RNC (@GOP) December 1, 2013
About 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, 2013
Indeed, 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."