๐ The Gist: State Representative Mary Margaret Oliver is proposing renaming Atlantaโs Memorial Drive to โVeterans Memorial Driveโ to honor all U.S. veterans, not just Confederate soldiers.
๐ฃ๏ธ The Details: House Resolution 1351, backed by the DeKalb Delegation, seeks to change the name of Memorial Drive โ which currently links the State Capitol to a Confederate memorial โ to better reflect a universal honor for U.S. veterans. The proposal highlights the desire of some residents of Fulton and DeKalb Counties to move away from commemorating the Confederacy.
๐ข Thereโs More:
- The resolution impacts State Route 10, State Route 154, and Memorial Drive in Fulton and DeKalb counties.
- Memorial Drive, formerly known as East Fair Street, was officially renamed in 1930.
๐ The Big Picture: This initiative reflects a broader movement to reevaluate and sometimes rename public spaces and monuments that predominantly honor Confederate figures.
๐ Whatโs Next?: The resolutionโs progress and potential implementation will be closely watched, marking a significant change in how Georgiaโs history and its veterans are honored in public spaces.
๐ฌ Conversation Starters:
- Should all public spaces named after Confederate figures or events be reconsidered for renaming?
- How does renaming public spaces impact the communityโs relationship with its history?
๐บ๐ธ About Representing You: This is an ongoing series of news stories devoted to how the officials elected and appointed to represent you are voting and how they are spending their time and your tax dollars.
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