On July 10th, 2015, activist, Sandra Bland was arrested along University Drive in Waller County, over a dispute over a traffic violation. Three days later as I’m sure most of you know, she was found hanging with a trash bag around her neck in her jail cell.
A month or so after Bland’s death,the Prairie View City Council voted 4-1 on a name change of University Drive to Sandra Bland Parkway, to keep her legacy alive.
According to the Houston Chronicle, this past Friday, a celebration of euphoria was held along the street where Bland was stopped to celebrate this accomplishment within the community.
Bland’s mother, Geneva Reed-Veel, got a chance to make it to the unveiling and share some words of encouragement to the local residents, activists, and supporters. “It’s not about just Sandy, it’s
about other women and men who’ve died at the hands of officers who’ve sworn to protect them.”
Even though around a 100 people showed up to support this monumental event. It was almost shut down by the mayor of Prairie View, Frank D. Jackson. The night before, there was a message sent out saying that it was canceled because he didn’t think it was arranged well enough. There was also a fear that it would give off mixed messages to the residents of Prairie View.
As people are happy and jumping for joy over this remarkable accomplishment; people have to understand that this is only a step to a greater goal at hand.
https://www.google.com/amp/www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/amp/Ceremony-marks-name-change-to-Sandra-Bland-Parkway-7252056.php#
http://m.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Prairie-View-council-to-vote-on-removing-Sandra-6521336.php
http://www.12newsnow.com/story/31741763/prairie-view-street-now-officially-sandra-bland-parkway
