Ala. Senate votes to rename Edmund Pettus Bridge

[Triana]

The Alabama Senate on Wednesday voted to rename Selma's Edmund Pettus Bridge, site of 1965's Bloody Sunday and the subsequent Selma-to-Montgomery March.

The resolution, sponsored by Sen. Hank Sanders, D-Selma, would rename the 75-year-old bridge the Journey to Freedom Bridge, following a grassroots movement by a group called Students UNITE to rename the structure. The group collected 180,000 signatures on a change.org petition urging the renaming.

"There are many things in our society to change that are more significant than the name of a bridge, but removing this vestige of the past will serve as a parallel to the ongoing journey towards equal rights, fair representation and open opportunity," the resolution says.

The resolution still needs approval from the House of Representatives and Gov. Robert Bentley. The Legislature can meet for only two more days before June 15, though there have been rumblings the session could end as early as Thursday.

THE REST:

http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/story/news/politics/southunionstreet/2015/06/03/ala-senate-votes-rename-edmund-pettus-bridge/28409105/

[merrily]

1. Freedom Bridge is certainly preferable to Pettus, but I favored John Lewis Bridge.

[riqster]

2. Agreed.

[brooklynite]

5. How about we wait for people to die before commemorating them?

[CreekDog]

11. there is nothing wrong with naming something after a person who is living

are you seriously trying to raise a concern about naming something after a Civil Rights hero?

your priorities are astounding.

[Triana]

10. Absolutely. n/t

[earthside]

3. Is that a good idea?

Sanitizing history makes me uncomfortable.

Everybody in the world (figuratively) knows what happened at the Edmund Pettus Bridge.

'Bloody Sunday' didn't happen at the 'Freedom Bridge'.

This may be a well intentioned idea, but something historical and significant occurred at this bridge at a particular time at a place with a specific name.

Indeed, when one knows for whom the Edmund Pettus Bridge was named, it makes the 'Bloody Sunday' event that much more poignant and powerful.

Somehow it seems to me that commemorations of 'Bloody Sunday' will not have the same impact if the current lettering on the bridge is replaced with a shiny, new red and white and blue "Freedom Bridge" sign.

[NightWatcher]

4. I guess it's better than their second choice, The Happytime Sunshine Bridge

I'm with you, don't change the name or try to sanitize it.

History has some ugly spots and needs to be remembered as such.

[Paka]

6. 'Bloody Sunday' didn't happen at the 'Freedom Bridge'.

It's as if they want to erase and forget what happened there. Move forward and forget the struggle.

[CreekDog]

12. why not just fly Confederate Flags all over the South rather than "sanitize" history

see how ridiculous what you're saying is?

yikes.

[earthside]

15. Or be like the Repuglicans ...

... and rename it the Ronald Reagan bridge.

Some things historically are what they are.

Should we become like ancient Egyptians and chisel out the names of leaders and events we don't like anymore?

Should we go along with the reactionaries and call the Confederate battle flag "The Stainless Banner" because that sounds less offensive?

At some point it becomes Orwellian to rename everything to the point that they become devoid of genuine meaning and history.

There are several 'Freedom Bridge' structures in the U.S. and around the world -- there is only one Edmund Pettus Bridge with its consequential history and meaning.

That goes beyond ridiculous to actually dangerous to the very 'freedoms' we claim we support.

And ... I have a suspicion that there are unfortunately plenty of folks in Alabama (and elsewhere around the country) who would literally love to 'whitewash' the remembrance of the Edmund Pettus Bridge and Bloody Sunday from history forever.

[yellowcanine]

13. If it were just the legislature I would be suspicious of the motive.

i.e. trying to "sanitize" history.

But since it is in response to a petition with 180,000 signatures, I think it is ok, particularly since the said Mr. Pettus was a Confederate general - bad enough, but also Grand Dragon of the KKK. So even if the renaming is for the wrong reasons, that despicable name is being removed, which is a good thing. Besides, renaming it Freedom Bridge will not erase the name in people's memories. They will always remember. If I were black I would certainly rather be traveling over the Freedom Bridge rather than the Edmund Pettus Bridge. They can put up a plaque at the base of the bridge which preserves the name and the event.

[pampango]

7. Whew! From the title I was expecting the Alabama Senate to rename it after a Confederate general or

something. It will be interesting to see if this really happens.

[CanonRay]

8. I was waiting for the Nathan Bedford Forrest bridge.

[yellowcanine]

14. Well Edmund Pettus was a Grand Dragon of the KKK.

After being a Confederate general and an enthusiastic defender of slavery. Good riddance.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmund_Pettus

[Tommy_Carcetti]

9. I'm of mixed minds on this.

On the one hand, he was a segregationist politician and a KKK Grand Dragon and is hardly befitting of any type of public honor.

But on the other hand, his name starkly written on bold i the top of that infamous bridge is engrained in all the footage of that historic event. Literally removing the name would feel like altering history of sorts.

And there was always a great irony and symbolism behind the fact that people had to struggle to literally get over a bridge representing segregation and oppression.

[Triana]

16. Yea these are good points ie: erasing history

Is that a good or bad thing? I can see both sides. Not sure what's best myself.