Next to a heavily trafficked bridge on Atlanta's interstate 75 crossing over the Chattahoochee River, a brown sign reads in white lettering: “Lester and Virginia Maddox Bridge.” Lester Maddox was Georgia’s 75th governor, and quite a lot of controversy surrounded him as a politician. Maddox was a staunch segregationist, did not support the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and did not respectfully honor the death of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Therefore, such a beautiful and regularly-traveled bridge should not possess his name. 

Lester Maddox was an entrepreneur and his business, the Pickrick Cafeteria, was a public representation of Maddox’s view on segregation. The restaurant was open to only whites and refused to serve blacks or those considered integrationists. Maddox also provided customers with free segregationist literature and installed a “ Make a Wish for Segregation” wishing well in his restaurant.

After the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Pickrick Cafeteria remained segregated. Therefore, Civil Rights activists often protested at Maddox’s restaurant. On July 3, 1964, Maddox and several other segregationists “wielding axe handles” chased away three African-American protesters. A photograph was taken of the scene, displaying him as the violent white supremacist he was. Maddox even challenged the constitutionality of the “public accommodations” section of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 in court and lost. Because of this, he decided to close the Pickrick Cafeteria instead of desegregating. 

When Maddox was governor, he did not allow state facilities to fly their state flags at half-mast to mourn the death of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Maddox ordered a heavy police presence at King’s funeral as well, for he feared a riot would break out.

Why is and why was anything in Georgia named after a bigoted, uneducated, unsuccessful, immoral, unapologetic, and racist politician?

We propose that the bridge should be renamed the "Jefferson Franklin Long Bridge," in honor of its namesake, who served as Georgia's first African-American congressman. This would instead honor our fighting commitment to achieving equality in our justice system and serves as a fitting replacement of an honor for a staunch segregationist.