My reason for proposing an honorary street name "Black Lives Matter" is greatly
influenced by recent local and national events. The past several months has exposed
racial disparities and inequalities (once again), inspiring people all across the county to
condemn acts of racism, discrimination and senseless violence, particularly against
African Americans. This includes numerous protest and rallies right here in
Charlottesville; a city that has its own dark history of racism and discrimination dating all
the way back from slavery, to Jim crow, to Robert E statue debate, to August 12 th -the
Summer of Hate, to Black Lives Matter protest the past several weeks.
 I believe the most recent protest in the city are part of the biggest collective
demonstration of civil unrest around police violence that my generation has.witness
across the whole entire country. The unifying theme, for the first time in our country's
long, ugly and dark history, is BLACK LIVES MATTER. This is extremely important,
because currently there are still institutions and systems right here in Charlottesville that
act as if black lives don't matter. The city made 4 th street and honorary street named
after one woman (Heather Heyer) to honor her fallen life. It's in that same spirt that I
submit this proposal to you to honor the over 10, 000 Black lives in Charlottesville, who
remain disproportionately impacted by structural and racism (overt and covert) and still
live under an entire social structure centered around white privilege and
disproportionate minority contact with the police. Due to the latter, I also propose the
honorary street be one closest to the Charlottesville Police Department (or another area
that is impactful the African American community)

Naming an honorary street of "Black Lives Matter" is NOT saying that other lives don't
matter, but rather affirming that Black lives should matter as much as all (other) lives.
Furthermore, a Black Lives Matter honorary street naming has already occurred in our
nation's capital, so Charlottesville would not be the first. However, it would be the first
time our city names to street to serve as acknowledgment of the historical racism, racial
terror and trauma, and racial injustices Africans Americans have endured past and
present. Finally and most importantly, an honorary street would send strong,
resounding, powerful, validating message to African Americans city-wide who have
been disproportionately impacted by police violence and systematic racism .... that we
see you, we hear you, and we are committed to ensuring our city becomes more fair
and more just.
Submitted by-Myra N Anderson