FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Lynne Conner
Publicity4you
818-749-9695

"ROSA PARKS STORY" MOVIE PREMIERE
HOSTED BY BEVERLY HILLS/HOLLYWOOD NAACP

LOS ANGELES (February 21, 2002). Rosa Parks, the "mother" of the Civil Rights movement, is the subject of a made for television movie of her life, that will have its Los Angeles premiere at a private VIP screening hosted by the Beverly Hills/Hollywood NAACP this Friday, February 22, 2002 at 6:00 p.m. at the Harmony Gold Theatre, 7655 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90046.

This program will broadcast as the "CBS Sunday Movie," Sunday, February 24, 2002 (9:00-11:00 PM,ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

"The Rosa Parks Story" traces her life and thathistoric day in December, 1955 when she refused togive up her seat on the bus to a white man. That one
simple act of civil disobedience sparked the 381 day Montgomery bus boycott, and cast Rosa Parks and a young preacher named Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. into the annals of history. At the time she was the secretary for the Montgomery Chapter of the NAACP, and with her attorney, the NAACP supported her in the court case. Through the years, the NAACP has continued to be a friend, supporter and advocate for Mrs. Parks.

The film boasts a star-studded line up, with Golden Globe and NAACP Image Award winner, Angela Bassett in the title role of Rosa Parks. Multi-Emmy
award winner Cicley Tyson plays Leona, Rosa's mother. Peter Francis James of the television daytime drama, "As The World Turns," is cast as Rosa's husband,
Raymond. Making a cameo appearance as Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. is his son Dexter Scott King. This inspirational film was shot by award winning director Julie Dash, whose debut film, "Daughters of the Dust" brought her critical acclaim.

"The Rosa Parks Story" by itself is an historical event. So when this film is seen by millions of television families during Black History month, it will provide a history lesson to a new generation of young people about the power of a non-violent response to injustice," observes Ronald Hasson, President of the Beverly Hills/Hollywood NAACP branch.

A host of celebrities and public figures have been invited to this premiere, including the cast; Julian Bond, the NAACP National Chairman of the Board; Kweisi Mfume, NAACP National President & CEO; Congresswoman Diane Watson (D-Los Angeles); Assembly Speaker Herb Wesson, Jr. (D-Los Angeles); and the Los Angeles Chief of Police C. Bernard Parks.

This premiere is sponsored in part by corporate citizens Verizon Communications and the United Postal Service (UPS), Nestles, State Farm, CBS, Just For You Towing, DA DA and 20 Century Fox.

# # #