MLK Blvd
Zoiks, I only just learned about this and have apparently already missed one of today's two airings on The People's Channel.
In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the town of Chapel Hill will air a documentary about the renaming of Airport Rd.
Monday at noon and 7 p.m. Chapel Hillians can follow the process of how the town’s Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard came to be. The film includes the entire dedication as well as the various ceremonial activities associated with the event.
The film features speeches by former Mayor Kevin Foy, United Methodist Reverend Jill Edens, late Council Member Bill Thorpe and former president of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro NAACP president Fred Battle. Their powerful words are underscored by the music of the J.R. Manley Essence of God Youth Choir and the St. Joseph Male Chorus.
The 2005 spring day highlighted by the film marked Dr. King’s 45th anniversary visit to Chapel Hill. Monday, the town will celebrate Dr. King’s birthday for the 26th time.
Chapel Hill was one of the first communities in North Carolina to declare Martin Luther King Jr. Day a municipal holiday.
The film will air twice on Chapel Hill TV 18.
- 1360wchl.com: Chapel Hill To Air Film About MLK Jr. Boulevard, 01/17/11
Date:
Monday, January 17, 2011 - 2:00pm
With this weekend's bad news, Chapel Hill's pedestrian death toll rises to THREE in the past month. May 17: Barbara Boone Sims was killed crossing Weaver Dairy Road at Perkins Drive, May 15: Lisa Carolyn Moran was fatally hit by a bus on Manning Drive near UNC Hospital, April 27: Clifton Walker Steed was killed crossing MLK Blvd at Hillsborough Street. All were killed within a block of the NC 86 corridor (South Columbia Street and Martin Luther King Boulevard).
I know the Town has studied the MLK portion of the corridor and proposed some pedestrian improvements (PDF report), but none have been implemented yet as far as I know. We also need to remember that crosswalks don't exist in a vacuum, we need safe sidewalks, well-lit bus shelters, adequate bike lanes, and much more.
I assume that everyone knows that, back in June, the Town Council
created a discussion committee rather than act on the proposed renaming
of Airport Road to Martin Luther King Jr Blvd (by a 5-4 vote
orchestrated by Mayor Foy along with Council-members Verkerk and
Wiggins).
From today's Chapel Hill News:
"I found the whole thing really embarrassing," Sinreich
said. "I was shocked the council was not able to take what I see
as a really big step to affirm the civil rights movement. There are
real, significant changes that need to be made. This isn't one. This is
a token gesture that says, 'Thanks for all you've done and sorry
you've been treated like crap.'"
The News' lengthy article only touched on the ongoing racial
problems in Chapel Hill. Lots of good quotes but Ruby really nailed it.
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