Gainesville city and community members gathered at the Rosa Parks Transfer Station on Friday morning to commemorate the third annual “Day of Courage” and the 68th anniversary of Rosa Parks refusing to give up her seat on a Montgomery bus. 

Gainesville Mayor Harvey Ward proclaimed Dec. 1 to be “Rosa Parks Day” in the city, and with a second proclamation waiting in the wings, Ward also proclaimed the day to be “Rev. Milford L. Griner Day.” 

Griner, 65, founded the Rosa Parks Quiet Courage Committee in 2006, and Friday’s event marked the last one he would preside over as president. Griner said he was stepping down from the role for personal and professional reasons, but he told attendees that he would continue the work. 

“Yes, I’m stepping down, retiring, whatever phrase might be used, but in my heart, in my spirit, in my soul, I will never step down as an advocate for justice—never,” Griner said. 

The committee has given an annual Quiet Courage Award since its founding, and several recipients showed up on Friday to celebrate Parks’ legacy and that of Griner. The event also featured a selection of freedom songs performed by Kali Blount, “Stand Up” performed by Justice Alexander and “Battle Hymn of the Republic” performed by Tammy McCants.  

Griner said he already had a person selected to replace him as committee president, noting that the work would continue.  

“One thing I can promise: The Rosa Parks Quiet Courage Committee will never die,” Griner said. “As long as injustice is with us, it will never die.”  

The committee pushed in 2008 for the transfer station to be named in honor of Rosa Parks, and a bronze plaque memorializes the efforts of the committee members from that time.  

Griner said he’s still proud of the work of the committee and is reminded of it when he sees the transfer station name on buses around town.