GRAND RAPIDS, me. (WOOD) – A local committee honoring civil rights activists is trying to build a pair of streets in Grand Rapids that has been renamed after two civil rights activists.
The Moving Ahead for Remarkable Civil Rights Heroes committee plans to officially convert Franklin Street into Martin Luther King Jr. Street between Oakland Avenue and the East Grand Rapids border.
The other proposed change is that Grandville Avenue becomes Cesar E. Chavez Avenue between Clyde Park Avenue and Weston Street.
“Really important because this time we want to show the city how much community support we have for Martin Luther King Jr. and Cesar E. Chavez,” said Robert S. Womack, co-chair of MARCH.
There are currently street signs commemorating Chavez in Grandville, but MARCH guides want an official change.
His influence in the region is evident: Grandville has a primary school named after the labor rights leader.
“I know it’s emotional for people,” said Lupe Ramos-Montigny, co-chair of MARCH. “Something they identify with.”
There used to be street signs honoring King on Division Avenue, but those signs no longer exist. Womack says parishioners would like to see Franklin renamed after the civil rights activist.
“I can tell you 98% of the people I’ve spoken to are for it,” said Womack.
The group held a petition rally on Saturday afternoon looking for people to sign and show their approval of the proposed road changes. MARCH members briefed residents on the plan and spoke to them – in English and Spanish – about the legacy of Chavez and King.
“We were able to collect a few hundred signatures, that’s good,” said Ramos-Montigny.
A public hearing on the name changes is scheduled for September. The Grand Rapids City Commission would then have to vote on the proposed change. In the meantime, MARCH members will continue to take to the streets to collect more signatures.
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