Grand Rapids Reporter

Grand Rapids has made history in Michigan by becoming the first city in the state to memorialize two civil rights leaders, César Chávez and Martin Luther King, Jr., at the intersection of two major roads.

The momentous accomplishment was made possible through the work of the Moving Ahead for Remarkable Civil Rights Heroes (M.A.R.C.H.) Committee, according to a press release from the city.

"We are making history in the City of Grand Rapids," Lupe Ramos-Montigny, M.A.R.C.H. co-chair, said in the release. "We had everyone in mind when we proposed the renaming of these two streets. These two civil rights heroes truly made an impact all over the world, and now that impact flows into the streets of Grand Rapids. César Chávez used to say, 'We draw our strength from the very despair in which we have been forced to live. We shall endure.' This M.A.R.C.H. committee also endured. We were able to touch many hearts and many minds. For that, we are very thankful to the community and the city commission for the support and the encouragement to make this happen."

The streets were officially renamed during a ceremony in late February, according to the release. The committee first proposed the idea of changing the name of Grandville Avenue between Clyde Park Avenue SW and Weston Street SW to César E. Chávez Avenue, and Franklin Street between Oakland Avenue SW and the boundary of East Grand Rapids to Martin Luther King Jr. Street, to the Grand Rapids City Commission last year. 

Members of the city commission unanimously approved the resolution to move forward with the name change last October, but made the changes effective on February 22, the release noted.

The day before the renaming ceremony, East Grand Rapids City Commission voted to rename East Grand Rapids' portion of Franklin Street SE to Plymouth Avenue to Martin Luther King Jr. Street. The change will take effect in early May.