Police arrested five social justice crusaders at a recent Hollywood, Florida city commission meeting after they refused to end their chant calling for the renaming of Lee, Hood, and Forrest streets.
The incident followed an organized protest in front of Hollywood City Hall Wednesday, when a handful of protestors used blow horns and picket signs to demand commissioners erase all ties to the Confederacy from the city’s streets.
Specifically, the social justice warriors want the city to rename Lee, Hood and Forrest streets, which are named after Confederate Gens. Robert E. Lee, John B. Hood, and lieutenant general Nathan Bedford Forrest, the Miami Herald reports.
The group of about 150 was led by members of Black Lives Matter and Democratic state Rep. Shevrin Jones, who argued that the Confederate street names are offensive because of their ties to slavery and the fact that they’re located in mostly black neighborhoods.
The protestors were met with Confederacy supporters affiliated with Save Southern Heritage Florida and other groups who donned Confederate symbols and urged city leaders to keep the names intact.
According to the Miami New Times:
As things grew heated on the lawn, within the commission chambers five young people chanted in unison for a renaming. Police ousted them from the room and then arrested them.
“They were in the commission meeting and being disruptive so they were arrested,” Grossman said. “I believe they were yelling, but because I was not there I cannot comment or confirm on whether or not they were being violent.”
The local Black Lives Matter group is now using the arrests as a fundraiser.
“Support 5 #blacklivesmatter activists arrested while demonstrating the City of Hollywood take (sic) down it’s (sic) street signs named after Confederate Generals,” read a petition on EverRibbon posted on Wednesday.
“On June 21st, activists supporting the movement for Black Lives gathered once again to convince the City of Hollywood, Florida to take down it’s (sic) street signs named after Confederate generals,” the description reads.
“The City has kicked the can down the road for years so 5 activists disrupted the City commission meeting and were arrested for disturbing the peace.
“Bail in the amount of $500 is in the process of being paid,” it continued. “Anything on top of that will go towards future court costs and beyond that future arrests paid for by the Fort Lauderdale Food Not Bombs bail fund.”
So far, the group has raised $595 through 14 donations.
A total of 36 speakers address Hollywood City commissioners from both sides of the debate, but commissioners pointed out that renaming the streets requires a formal application and a $6,000 fee.
“Many in the room didn’t expect what happened next: A woman named Laurie Schecter stepped forward and stated she had, earlier that day, formally filed an application to change Forrest Street’s name and paid the city fee for a renaming,” according to the New Times.
Several city commissioners and officials voiced support for renaming the streets, though some suggested contacting those who live on the streets to give them an opportunity to weigh in.
“Of the seven members on the Hollywood commission board, five would have to back the plan for the street’s to be renamed,” WSVN reports. “So far, only three have agreed.”
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