LITTLE ROCK, AR – The remains of more than 600 confederate soldiers are buried in the Little Rock National Cemetery and some believe that’s reason enough to keep the name of the road that runs in front.
“I just really believe that it ought not to be changed because that’s a National Cemetery. There’s a lot of dead heroes there,” says Jim Roy Warden.
Warden owns a burger joint along Confederate Boulevard.
“They don’t even need to consider changing it in my opinion,” Warden says.
But others see the name as a reminder of Arkansas’ painful past.
“Having something like a street or the flag its a symbol of slavery and it’s a symbol of oppression and I don’t thin it’s something we need to have,” says Little Rock City Director Kathy Webb.
Webb says the time is right to change the name, “It came about partially as a result of the horrible massacre in Charleston but I think it was also something that’s been on peoples’ minds for quite some time.”
Some residents are working to collect signatures to petition the city to change Confederate Blvd. to Springer Blvd. after Reverend Horace Springer a community leader in the first after of the 20th century.
The efforts are being led by Little Rock Doctor Anika Whitfield who we spoke with over the phone.
“Confederate Blvd. is a constant reminder that in the south there is a strong sense of both covert and over racism against people of color,” Dr. Whitfield says.
About 15 year ago some of Confederate Blvd. was actually changed to Springer Blvd., now proponents want the rest to be changed as well.
If they are able to collect 50 percent of the signatures of those who own businesses and property along the blvd. the issue would then go to the city, and eventually the City Board of Directors would have to vote on it for it to become reality.
“I just really believe that it ought not to be changed because that’s a National Cemetery. There’s a lot of dead heroes there,” says Jim Roy Warden.
Warden owns a burger joint along Confederate Boulevard.
“They don’t even need to consider changing it in my opinion,” Warden says.
But others see the name as a reminder of Arkansas’ painful past.
“Having something like a street or the flag its a symbol of slavery and it’s a symbol of oppression and I don’t thin it’s something we need to have,” says Little Rock City Director Kathy Webb.
Webb says the time is right to change the name, “It came about partially as a result of the horrible massacre in Charleston but I think it was also something that’s been on peoples’ minds for quite some time.”
Some residents are working to collect signatures to petition the city to change Confederate Blvd. to Springer Blvd. after Reverend Horace Springer a community leader in the first after of the 20th century.
The efforts are being led by Little Rock Doctor Anika Whitfield who we spoke with over the phone.
“Confederate Blvd. is a constant reminder that in the south there is a strong sense of both covert and over racism against people of color,” Dr. Whitfield says.
About 15 year ago some of Confederate Blvd. was actually changed to Springer Blvd., now proponents want the rest to be changed as well.
If they are able to collect 50 percent of the signatures of those who own businesses and property along the blvd. the issue would then go to the city, and eventually the City Board of Directors would have to vote on it for it to become reality.
