It's high time Omaha has a major roadway named in honor of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
That's the position of the Native Omahans Club, which has partnered with Morning Star Baptist Church to begin a petition drive asking that the North Freeway be renamed for the slain civil rights leader. A similar proposal fizzled in 2003, but club members say the time is right to try again to recognize the man who advocated nonviolent means to end segregation.
"The freeway goes right through the north Omaha community, and we thought it would be appropriate," said petition drive organizer Gail Edwards. "Everyone knows that there has been a lot of violence lately, and we thought this would be a symbolic gesture."
Omaha has several landmarks named after King — two schools, a footbridge and a public pool among them — but no streets. Streets named for King are common in many other U.S. cities.
The group hopes to collect a minimum of 10,000 signatures on the petition, which it will present to city and state leaders. The change would require the approval of the State Highway Commission because it is a state highway.
