Port Allen honors Martin Luther King by renamiing La. 1 in his honor - NAACP still mad

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PORT ALLEN — The city commemorated what would have been the 89th birthday for Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday by hosting a dedication ceremony for the renaming of La. 1 in honor of the slain Civil Rights leader.

Port Allen is now the only city in West Baton Rouge Parish that has a street or highway named after King, according to Mayor Richard Lee, who at Monday's ceremony challenged other municipalities to follow the city's lead.

"It took a big effort with a lot of people involved in this," Lee told the crowd gathered outside the Port Allen Depot to attend the dedication ceremony.

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Efforts to honor King in some way in the city have been a struggle for local community leaders and activists for nearly two decades, according to the mayor.

"For some reason we couldn't come together," Lee said.

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But Garrett Brown, president of the city's local NAACP chapter, noted that it shouldn't have taken the city this long to honor the Civil Rights hero.

"We can celebrate today, even though we're behind," he said. "(but) we have to do better. We have to stand up."

In a remark he made toward politicians Brown added, "We want to support politicians, but I refuse to drink another soda or eat a hot dog for my vote. I need laws changed. Things could be much better."

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