ALABAMA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. 11 SOUTH UNION STREET, MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA 36130 REP, PRINCE CHESTNUT District 67 STATE House: 234-259-2098 Post OFrice Box 628 Orrice: 334-874-2569 ‘SELMA, ALABAMA 36702 Emait: prince.chestnut@alhouse.gov Dear Alabamians and Countrymen: Over the years, Selma has had its share of famous visitors—whether it was the Obamas, the Bushes, the Kennedys, the Clintons, Ava Duvernay, Common, Rev. Joseph Lowery, Jesse Jackson, John Lewis, Dick Gregory, Judge Joe Brown, Judge Mathis, Judge Maybelline Ephraim, Al Sharpton, Martin L. King, III, cable news contributors and a bevy of others. They have made the pilgrimage to Selma but have not engaged in any noticeable push for the renaming of the bridge. I have been here all of my life save the time period in which T attended aw school; the only noticeable push came about 2015 from two local groups. That push did not get far because the community became suspicious when we detected insincerity and a nonprofit money grab that the local people are so accustomed to witnessing. Other than that, there was never a noticeable push to rename the bridge. Once again, we cannot help but wonder whether these new efforts are sincere. These suspicions are fueled by the following facts: (1) The petition to rename the bridge this time was started by a guy who lives in New Jersey who is a self-proclaimed Democratic strategist. (2) There is no evidence this strategist ever contacted anyone from Selma before he launched his idea or began to mise funds through a nonprofit organization developed solely for the purpose of renaming Selma's most famous bridge after John Lewis. (3) John Lewis is a humble man who has not even asked for the bridge to be named after him; in fact, Lewis issued a resounding joint statement with Terri Sewell in 2015 when the first renaming effort took hold where he was concemed with how renaming it would interfere with the “integrity” of the Civil Rights Movement. (4) The George Floyd protests have done a lot to change how some people view issues of race in this country. The issue is that there are no discernible rules for what happens next. Many people are scrambling for an opportunity to make a name for themselves. Selma is tired—no Selma is sick and tired—of being used by benign interlopers who move on once they achieve their brief, momentary and fleeting goals. (5) Black lives matter. Black voices matter. Selma voices matter. Logically, black lives and voices in Selma should matter. It is disorienting that every time you look around, people presenting themselves as “woke” invoke the name of Selma whenever they want to appear socially conscious. Maybe some of these woke individuals should roll up their sleeves and come to Selma and get on ground zero with the people of Selma to make adifference. (6) Those persons not of Selma wanting to see this change should be equally concerned with the lack of equity for Selma, These strategists have ample Corporate America connections. Perhaps reaching out to those connections and working with them to bring tech jobs or utilizing our Air Force Base would be a major step in making a difference. (7) I am in the trenches and I get no help from any of the people demanding a rename. Selma is literally left to its own devices. In the State House, I have several voting rights bills that do not get out of committee. Where are the strategists? They are not in Alabama because they see Alabama as a red state to which there is little to no interest. John Lewis is a great and noble man. He was bom in Alabama (near Troy) and is now a native Georgian. He does deserve all the honors he has received in life and he should continue to be honored, He is decorated with more honors already than 99% of the people on earth. However, naming the most famous bridge in Selma after him is not appropriate. There were many Selmians and Alabamians who were cither on the bridge in March 1965, near the vicinity or precipitated the situation that changed this country for the better. John was not the only one. There were the Courageous 8, Bob Mantz (born in Atlanta but moved to “Bloody Lowndes” in the height of the Civil Rights Movement and lived out his days in neighboring Lowndes County), Stokely Carmichael, Annie Cooper, Marie Foster, the Boynton Family, J.L. Chestnut, Jr. and a host of others. Bemard Lafayette, who was not from Selma, moved to Selma and helped to precipitate conditions in Selma conducive for what happened in 1965. Lafayette continues to come to Selma and visit with humility and with no pomp and circumstance. He is very deserving as he was beaten in Selma well before Bloody Sunday simply because he was in Selma teaching people how to stand up for themselves. Albert Tumer Sr (Perry County Civic League)—who worked with Dr. King, Hosea Williams, Rev James Bevel, Lucy Foster and Rev James Orange to develop the Selma to Montgomery March concept—is also deserving of the honor. Some of the foot soldiers, who were present during the most tumultuous times, have expressed that the name should not be changed because there is a genuine concern that changing the name to something non-threatening might make the movement seem less daunting. This is a legitimate concern seeing that 90% of Americans have a favorable opinion of Dr. King posthumously, while less than 40% of Americans held a favorable opinion of him while alive because people cherry-pick the non-threatening aspects of his message as opposed to his demands for equality that made most people in this country dislike him. It is conceivable that youth will perceive that the bridge was always about freedom and positive change, which could diminish what the individuals who were attacked were able to accomplish, ‘When speaking to a cross-section of Selmians on renaming the bridge, the responses ranged from “I don’t think it matters”, “Name that bridge whatever they want if it brings in revenue” to “Don’t talk to me about no name change unless you bringing Selma some real Change!” As a politician you have to always weigh your belief’ with the beliefs of your constituents. You don’t always stay in lock step with them but you should honor them in what you do. I sought elected office to honor the people I represent. I love the people of Selma, Dallas County, and PerryCounty and they love me back. I have the great opportunity to represent one of the most historic civil rights rich districts in all of the United States: from Selma to the Coretta Scott King family property where she was married to Dr. King in Perry County. This is spiritual ground and we have more than enough symbolism. The people of Selma and Dallas County want more than mere symbolism; they want a better quality of life. I represent and take my cues from the people in my community first and foremost. I welcome the strategists, celebrities, Corporate America and others who are serious about the Phrase black lives matter to help us literally build another version of “Black Wall Street” right hhere—near the bridge—in Selma, Alabama. There is plenty of land and plenty of opportunity-— there just needs to be the will to take action. Every beautiful community is planned. Why not plan a beautiful community here in Selma? AS to the bridge, the structure itself is old and beyond the recommended life for a bridge. I have heard some concems for the age of the bridge. There was a belief asserted that the bridge was functionally obsolete in that it is more than 75 years old. However, I contacted engineers and spoke with a spokesperson for the Alabama Department of Transportation coneeming the integrity of the bridge. The functionally obsolete moniker no longer applies, as that term is now outdated: the condition of bridges is now assessed as to whether they are in good, fair or poor condition. Conceming the Edmund Pettus Bridge, I was informed that itis in fair condition. The spokesperson informed that barring something unforeseen, the said Bridge should last through his lifetime because of its exemplary original design. He is not much older than I; so that was good to hear. T do believe that a name like the Historic Selma Bridge or the Bloody Sunday Bridge would be refreshing, but the people of Selma should make the first step to clearly let the world know this is what Selma desires. Sincerely, ve State Reprpsentative