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By Reasla Teague
A coalition of civil rights teams has unanimously voted final week to petition the Maryland state authorities to rename the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which was destroyed final month after a cargo ship collision. Their objection stems from Key’s standing as a slave proprietor, regardless of being the writer of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
The Caucus of African American Leaders, comprising organizations just like the NAACP and Nationwide Coalition of 100 Black Girls, is urging Democratic Governor Wes Moore and the Normal Meeting to rethink the bridge’s title. They counsel renaming it after Rep. Parren J. Mitchell, the primary Black Marylander elected to the U.S. Home in 1970.
“He spent a life, his complete life, making a bridge between the African American group and actually the bigger society,” stated Carl O. Snowden of the caucus, describing Mitchell who died in 2007.
The Baltimore bridge collapsed on March 26 after being struck by a cargo ship. With over 11 million autos crossing it yearly, federal and state officers are discussing rebuilding plans.
The caucus additionally recommends renaming the Sen. Frederick Malkus Memorial Bridge after Gloria Richardson, a pioneering chief of grassroots civil rights efforts.
Snowden stated they’ll share these suggestions with Gov. Moore this week and focus on additional at their quarterly assembly. Moreover, they urge making a memorial for the six Latino staff killed within the bridge collapse.
Whereas Key wrote the nationwide anthem after witnessing the British defeat in 1814’s Battle of Baltimore, he was a slave proprietor who considered Black individuals as “intrinsically inferior.” As a lawyer, he helped some Black People sue for freedom however later regretted it, advocating they be despatched to Liberia as an alternative.
Snowden expressed optimism given Maryland’s previous actions, like eradicating a statue of Key’s brother-in-law Roger Taney, who authored the notorious Dred Scott resolution, from the state home in 2017 after the caucus petitioned.
This put up was initially revealed by Houston Defender.
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