July 2020: Rename the Bridge
AArrow Sign Spinners Tyler Cartwright and Theo Davis travel to Selma, Alabama to protest the Edmund Pettus Bridge, which is named after a former confederate soldier and KKK leader. The controversial bridge is being petitioned to be named after civil rights icon John Lewis. They were met with mostly positive feedback from the community.
The Edmund Pettus Bridge was the site of the conflict of Bloody Sunday on March 7, 1965, when police attacked Civil Rights Movement demonstrators including the late Rep. John Lewis, with horses, billy clubs, and tear gas as they were attempting to march to the state capital, Montgomery. Two days later, Dr. Martin Luther King led more than 2,000 marchers, Black and white, across the Edmund Pettus Bridge but found Highway 80 blocked again by state troopers. King paused the marchers and led them in prayer, whereupon the troopers stepped aside.
Fast forward 2 years later, and Alabama legislators finally passed a bill to rename the bridge to “Edmund W. Pettus-Foot Soldiers Bridge.” All of the initial lettering remained the same, but a new sign was added detailing some of the historic events.
Michael Starr Hopkins, Founder of the John Lewis Bridge Project, released the following statement:
“Congratulations and thank you to Representative Chestnut, the Alabama Legislature and the thousands of Americans who joined the John Lewis Bridge Project for their work, dedication and activism.
“When we started the John Lewis Bridge Project, just under a year ago, the response was incredible and humbling. From every corner of the nation thousands of individuals, from all walks of life, joined the effort to honor the great John Lewis. Today, the Alabama Legislature, led by Representative Chestnut, took one step closer to ensuring the legacy of John Lewis will live on for generations. We look forward to the next step and encourage Governor Ivey to sign this bill into law as soon as possible.”
