Edmund Pettus
John Lewis leading the Selma civil rights march that almost cost him his life
The bridge is currently named the Edmund Pettus bridge. I have heard that name practically my whole live, but never had a clue who Edmund Pettus was. Today I decided to find out. Here's a historical account from The Smithsonian Magazine:
Edmund Pettus
"Pettus was regarded as a hero in his native state and adopted hometown of Selma, a lawyer and statesman who served as a U.S. senator."
Well, that's nice. Naming bridges after heroes, a long tradition. And what did he do as "a lawyer and a statesman" to earn the respect of his people?
"...he was also a decorated Confederate general and a leader in the Alabama Ku Klux Klan."
Oh. Not quite so good, I'd say.
"His father was a wealthy planter and his mother the offspring of a Revolutionary War veteran. After passing the state bar in 1842, Pettus moved further south to open a law practice in Gainesville, Alabama.
Pettus’ family profited enormously from the economy of the Deep South, owning slaves and producing cotton. But it was Pettus’ belief in white supremacy, and not pure economics that drove his support for the Confederacy.
“His fanaticism is borne of a kind of pro-slavery belief that his civilization cannot be maintained without slavery,” says (Alabama historian Wayne) Flynt. "He’s not a reluctant pragmatist, brought to secession to go along with the people. He’s a true believer.”
"In 1896, at the age of 75, Pettus ran for U.S. Senate as a Democrat and won, beating incumbent James L. Pugh. His campaign relied on his successes in organizing and popularizing the Alabama Klan..."
Just saying here, but in my opinion it might be a reasonable idea to rename this bridge. The Satan Incarnate on This Earth Bridge would actually be a better name than the one it has, but I think the John Lewis bridge would be the appropriate choice.
Comments
"They have no right changing the name of our bridge. WE all know who it was named for and exactly why that name should never be changed."
For me, this is the exception that tests the rule that Confederate names should be removed. History did happen there, and, since the civil rights marchers made that history, I would defer to the opinions of those still living on this matter.
Also, the Pettus bridge has been listed as "functionally obsolete" for years. It might be better to build a new bridge nearby and let the "Edmund Pettus" name stay on the old, obsolete relic of the past.