Council approves renaming Sixth Street for King
Posted on Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Sixth Street will be renamed Martin Luther King Boulevard effective Jan. 19, 2009, by unanimous vote of the Fayetteville City Council on Tuesday.
I want the sign turned the other way, Edith Hawkins told the council.
In 2009, the blue signs proclaiming Sixth Street as Honorary Martin Luther King Boulevard turn green and turn to run with the street, as Hawkins wanted.
She was president of the Northwest Arkansas Mar- tin Luther King Jr. Planning Committee in 2002 when the City Council compromised a name change effort by approving the honorary recognition.
I do stand tonight to say that I think now is the time for us to make the move to change the signs and make it permanent, Hawkins said Tuesday.
A spokesman for the U. S. Postal Service said last week that mail would be delivered to both addresses for a year after the change becomes official.
Im just so pleased, I cant even get it out, said Ernestine Gibson, president of the Martin Luther King Planning Committee. We will be so elated to announce at our activities that the streets will be permanent and that next year we will be having a really big celebration.
Gibson told the council the change was not for the sake of change, but was about Fayetteville being a progressive, diverse city.
This change will move us into another arena where we will join other cities to prove how much we care about racial equality and justice for all people, she said.
Of the nine speakers on the topic, only one spoke against the resolution, citing the expenses businesses on the street will incur.
Jim Burnett, Fayetteville attorney and Sixth Street businessman, urged the council to rename another street or at least extend the time frame.
Burnett said he agreed with what was said about King and that didnt object to the purpose for the change.
We have 71 businesses that dont want to do this, and its not because of disrespecting anybody, he said. Its because of money, time and confusion.
He read a list that included names representing Wal-Mart, restaurants, auto parts and repairs businesses, gas stations, clubs and other businesses.
Speaking for the change was former Alderman Don Marr.
Expenses associated with an address change are just a cost of doing business, he said.
Marr also spoke about the symbols of the community and said he looked forward to the name change that would become a symbol of acceptance, leadership, peace, partnership and diversity.
Aaron Gabriel, assistant director of the University of Arkansas Community Design Center, challenged the city to make the name change a more expensive venture by improving what he called the primary gateway to the city.
I think if were going to name a street after a great man, we should make a great street, he said.
Alderman Lioneld Jordan said it was important to honor King by naming a street after him.
Dr. King was a man who fought for equality for all people, he said. He was a man of peace. He was a man who gave his life for his beliefs. He was a man who changed the world. Dr. King laid his life down for all people, and if he can do that, then we can surely name a street after him.
FEEDBACK:
Something to say about this topic? Submit a Letter to the Editor online
