A Little Rock Planning commission will review a possible renaming of the city’s Confederate Boulevard Thursday evening.
Little Rock resident and advocate Anika Whitfield is leading the effort to see Confederate Boulevard re-titled Springer Boulevard in honor of prominent African American family longstanding in the neighborhood.
Whitfield said she was inspired to petition the city for the change after this summer’s shooting of nine African Americans in a church in Charlestown, South Carolina, by Dylan Roof, a teen who said he was inspired by white supremacist messages.
"It's not only an eyesore, it's a constant reminder of the state of racism in our past and our present,” she said.
She added she hopes renewed attention to the street will help with improvements to the area.
"Several of the neighbors and community members would love to see some more positive things in the neighborhood including community parks, better street lights, sidewalks, better food opportunities in that community. There used to be a bank in that neighborhood, there's no longer a bank in that area."
Little Rock's Board of Directors will take up the matter in an agenda meeting if it is approved in committee. Other parts of Confederate Boulevard were renamed in years past following similar community efforts.
KUAR contacted outspoken business owners on Confederate Boulevard against the change. They were not available for comment.
