1984 年 1 月 15 日，数百人边唱歌边诵经，步行从西雅图的锡安山浸信会 (Mount Zion Baptist Church) 来到东彻丽街 (E Cherry Street) 和马丁路德金路 (Martin Luther King Jr. Way) 的交叉路口。对于众多的民众来说，这次周年庆典不仅庆祝马丁•路德•金先生 (1929-1968) 取得的重要成就，而且标志着以被刺身亡的民权领导人姓名重新命名恩派尔路 (Empire Way) 的长期法律纠纷终结。1981 年，重新命名西雅图东南部的一条主干道这一简单的想法一经提出，就引发了全市人民激烈的讨论。尽管该提议得到了市政委员会和市长的一致同意，并于 1982 年颁布了更改账单、地图、表单、市场宣传材料以及路标等的法令，但是由于干道旁 36 个商家的反对而引发法律案件，该法令被搁置了近两年。商户们表示担心因更名而产生的代价，并认为这是在挑战城市在没有进行公投的情况下通过法例的能力。 1983 年 12 月，商户们最终在华盛顿州最高法院的这宗案件中败诉，但是他们决定不再上诉。该市快速组织生产了 500 个街道路标，并于 1 月 15 日的最后期限之前成功地安装完毕。
1984 年 1 月 15 日，数百人庆祝西雅图新马丁路德金路的最后更名标志布置完毕
- By Kathleen Kemezis
- Posted 9/07/2010
- HistoryLink.org Essay 9568
Sources:
“Martin Luther King Way? A City Hearing,” Seattle Post-Intelligencer, April 20, 1982, p. D-7; “The Empire Way Strikes Back at that New Name:” Ibid., July 28, 1982, p. C-1; “Royer Signs -- and Now It’s ‘King Way,’” Ibid., July 30, 1982, p. A-1; “Merchants Lose Street Name Delay,” Ibid., August 19, 1982, p. C-2; “Empire Way Change of Name Is OK, Judge Says,” Ibid., September 28, 1982, p. C-1; “15 Turn Out for King Way Picketing,” Ibid., August 22, 1982, p. C-15; “The Merchants Decide to Let King Have His Way,” Ibid., January 27, 1984, p. A-12; Lee Moriwaki, “Council Votes to Rename Empire Way for Martin Luther King Jr,” The Seattle Times, July 20, 1982, p. B-1; Charles Moore and Susan Gilmore, “Compromise on Renaming Empire Way,” Ibid., April 30,1981, p. C-1; “Blacks to Seek Full Street to Honor King,” Ibid., April 30, 1981, p. E-8; Lee Moriwaki, “Empire Way Name Change Drawing Flood of Opposition” Ibid., July 27, 1982, p. A-1; Lee Moriwaki, “Royer Approves New Name for Empire Way Despite Protests (signed 7-29-82),” Ibid., July 30, 1982, p. A-1; Herb Robinson, “A Distasteful Dispute,” Ibid., July 28, 1982, p. 7; Lee Moriwaki, “It’s Now Martin Luther King Jr. Way,” Ibid., July 30,1982, p. A-1; “Mrs. King Invited to Renaming,” Ibid., August 5, 1982, p. B-3; Lee Moriwaki, “Suit Filed to Block Renaming Street for Martin Luther King,” Ibid., August 10, 1982, p. E-1; Lee Moriwaki, “Fliers Urge Boycott of Empire Way Name-changing Foes” Ibid., August 19, 1982, p. B-1; “Street-Name Issue far from Settled” Ibid., September 22, 1982, p. A-1; Lee Moriwaki, “Empire Way Group Files Appeal” Ibid., November 18, 1982, p. A-30; Susan Gilmore, “Street Name: Get on with Change to King Way, says William,” Ibid., April 14,1983, p. A-4; “Why City Is Stalling on Renaming Street,” Ibid., October 20, 1983, p. A-3; William Gough, “Last Sign: King’s Name and Dream Are Stamped on City,” Ibid., January 15, 1984, p. A-4; Florangela Davila, “MLK Way,” The Seattle Times, August 25, 2010 (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com).
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