Florida town changes MLK street name


G

GramFan

Well-Known Member
Florida town changes MLK street name

ZEPHYRHILLS, Florida (AP) -- The city council of this central Florida town tried to settle a bitter, monthslong dispute by voting Monday to change Martin Luther King Avenue back to its original name of Sixth Avenue, while keeping up street signs with both names.

The 4-1 decision followed almost two hours of public testimony over an issue that turned neighbor against neighbor and exposed racial tensions in this town of 11,000 founded by Union veterans of the Civil War.

"In my opinion, it's just pure evil that has come to the citizens of this town," Donna Church, a white resident, told the city council as she tried not to choke up. "I know people who have known each other 20 years who won't speak to each other anymore."

Read more here:

http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/South/05/11/mlk.street.ap/index.html
 
The city council made a mistake by not consulting with the residents before making the name change. That is what created the problem. Done in the proper order, the racist element is exposed upfront and is quickly quieted. Then, the city takes 6 months to a year with dual signs/addressing to give those residents and businesses a chance to make the adjustments and this kind of thing goes away quietly.
 



I'm sorry.I don't see what having both signs up will solve.Maybe they can find another street there to name in honor of Dr. King.One man in the article is still holding Dr.King's opposition to the Vietnam war as his reason for being against it.How narrowminded can you be?In retrospect,many people who supported the war then would be against it now.
 
Butch Wms. said:
One man in the article is still holding Dr.King's opposition to the Vietnam war as his reason for being against it.How narrowminded can you be?In retrospect,many people who supported the war then would be against it now.
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That's exactly what I told someone this morning. Just another sad commentary on the state of people in this country.
 
Dr. Sweet NUPE said:
Why not do what Fayetteville did....keep the present name but add..."Honorary MLK, Jr. Drive"
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Better yet, why not just leave the street like it was??? Was it physically hurting someone by being called MLK Ave.?
 
i guess I've got two points to raise:

1. Why is it that some segments of OUR population feel like Dr. King has to be honored with a street in EVERY town in the country????? Did you know that other than the names 'Northside', 'Elm' and 'Main', the next most prolific street name is MLK Drive?????? I just don't see the necessity in naming a street for MLK, if you're not going to name streets after other 'political and social icons'. And if so, then the blacks shouldn't complain if somebody wants a street named for Robert E. Lee, or J. Edgar Hoover, or anybody like that........


and

2. Why would there be some black folks outside protesting, saying 'No Justice, No Peace'.... then singing 'We Shall Overcome' :rolleyes: That's stupid. And it's contradictory. One doesn't have anything to do with the other...... :angry: You don't need to say 'We Shall Overcome' then shout 'No Justice, No Peace'..... Those two sayings don't go together....At all.........


We Shall Overcome--> :argue2: <--No Justice, No Peace

:shame:
 
Taylor-Made'90 said:
i guess I've got two points to raise:

1. Why is it that some segments of OUR population feel like Dr. King has to be honored with a street in EVERY town in the country????? Did you know that other than the names 'Northside', 'Elm' and 'Main', the next most prolific street name is MLK Drive?????? I just don't see the necessity in naming a street for MLK, if you're not going to name streets after other 'political and social icons'. And if so, then the blacks shouldn't complain if somebody wants a street named for Robert E. Lee, or J. Edgar Hoover, or anybody like that........


and

2. Why would there be some black folks outside protesting, saying 'No Justice, No Peace'.... then singing 'We Shall Overcome' :rolleyes: That's stupid. And it's contradictory. One doesn't have anything to do with the other...... :angry: You don't need to say 'We Shall Overcome' then shout 'No Justice, No Peace'..... Those two sayings don't go together....At all.........


We Shall Overcome--> :argue2: <--No Justice, No Peace

:shame:
Click to expand...

Amen. Not to mention, why does it have to be MLK? What about Malcolm X, Charles Drew, etc.? Is this really necessary?
 
Was it Chris Rock that had the routine about Martin Luther King streets?

Something like "Martin Luther King stood for non-violence, but if you're on Martin Luther King Drive, there's some violence going on close by."

I wouldn't have a problem with changing the name of my street, but I'm sure some of my neighbors might roll their eyes (couldn't get the smilie to work), kinda the same reaction you get when you talk about MLK Day.

I just don't see the street situation described above as being worthy of protests. There are lots of better places folks could put their energy toward.
 
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