Res No 143-17-14944RESOLUTION NO. 143-17-14944
A Resolution of the Mayor and City Commission for the City of South Miami,
Florida, supporting the renaming of three streets by the City of Hollywood, Florida.
WHEREAS, there are three streets in Hollywood, Florida named for Generals Forrest,
Hood and Lee of the Confederate States of America, a political entity whose sovereignty lasted
four years from 1861-1865; and
WHEREAS, there is a debate going on in the City of Hollywood as to whether these
street names should be changed; and
WHEREAS, one of the founding principles of the Confederate States of America was
the supremacy of members of the white Caucasian race which premise is an anathema to a free
and democratic society; and
WHEREAS, on April 12, 1864 Confederate Major General Nathaniel Bedford Forrest's
1st Cavalry Corps attacked and overpowered the 300 white and 300 black Union defenders ofFt
Pillow, TN, and after the fighting had stopped, massacred all but 20 ofthe black defenders ofFt
Pillow, and this became known as the Ft Pillow Massacre. Had this action under the command of
Gen. Forrest happened in the 20th century, it would have earned Gen. Forrest the same moniker
as was given to Japanese General T omoyuki Yamashita who oversaw the troops that perpetuated
the Bataan Death March, that of WAR CRIMINAL; and
WHEREAS, General Nathaniel Bedford Forrest went on to establish the organization
known as the "Ku Klux Klan"; and
WHEREAS, in 1964 in Neshoba County, MS, perpetrators belonging to the same Ku
Klux Klan founded by Nathaniel Bedford Forrest, murdered three Civil Rights workers: James
Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner in an episode known as the Freedom
Summer Murders, whose only offense was to be engaged in voter registration of African
Americans who had Constitutionally protected right to vote; and
WHEREAS, it has taken years for residents of Hollywood's Liberia neighborhood to
have their voices finally heard on this matter; and
WHEREAS, 17% of Hollywood's popUlation is African American, primarily located in
the Washington Park neighborhood in the south end of the City and the Liberia neighborhood in
the north end of the City, with the existing single member districts it will be extremely difficult
to elect an African American to the City Council (none has ever served in the Hollywood
Council) until a voting district is formed that includes both the Liberia and Washington Park
neighborhoods; and
WHEREAS, there will be three streets in Hollywood that will need renaming; and
Res. No. 143-11>-14944
WHEREAS, the South Miami Commission asks the Hollywood City Commission to
consider renaming Forrest, Hood and Lee Streets to Chaney, Goodman and Schwerner in honor
of their ultimate personal sacrifice; and
WHEREAS, residents of the three streets affected by the street name change will need to
change their Drivers' Licenses and State-approved identification cards after the street name
changes.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI, FLORIDA THAT:
Section 1. The recitals are hereby found to be true and they are adopted by reference and
made a part of this resolution.
Section 2. The City of South Miami Commission supports the renaming of three streets
by the City of Hollywood, Florida.
Section 3. The Mayor and Commission of South Miami caB on the Florida Department
of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to offer free changes of address on Drivers' Licenses and
State-approved identification cards to residents of the three streets affected by the street name
change and to make available to those residents the Florida License On Wheels (FLOW) mobile
Driver's License bus on at least three different times at three different locations after the streets
have been renamed .
. Section 4. The City Clerk is hereby directed to transmit this resolution to all members of
the Commission of the City of Hollywood, Florida; all members of the African American
Advisory Council of the City of Hollywood, Florida, all members of the Broward County
Commission, Florida, all members of the Hillsboro County Commission, Florida, Broward
Sheriff Scott Israel, Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, State Representative Shevrln
Jones, Broward Public Defender Howard Finkelstein, the Anti-Defamation League; and Broward
property Appraiser Marty Kiar.
Section 5. Severability. If any section clause, sentence, or phrase of this resolution is for
any reason held invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, the holding shall
not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this resolution.
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Res. No. 143-17-14944
Section 6. Effective Date. This resolution shall become effective immediately upon
adoption by vote of the City Commission.
PASSED AND ADOPJED this12 day of-'J=----=u:::..::l=....t.y ____ , 2017.
COMMISSION VOTE: 5-0
Mayor Stoddard: Yea
Vice Mayor Welsh: Yea
Commissioner Edmond: Yea
Commissioner Liebman: Yea
Commissioner Harris: Yea
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