Hello, there.
We'll be hearing a lot today about the Capitol insurrection of 6 January 2021. Thinking about it, too — as we should.
But, Nortonians have a more ennobling anniversary to remember and celebrate today.
For the last couple of years, The Emperor Norton Trust has been noting that the next big commemorative opportunity for the California state legislature simply to add "Emperor Norton Bridge" as an honorary name for the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge was this year, 2022 — the 150th anniversary of the Emperor's three newspaper Proclamations setting out the original vision for the bridge in 1872.
The Emperor planted the first of those three visionary flags 150 years ago today — with a Proclamation that appeared in the Pacific Appeal on 6 January 1872.
:: :: ::
The first vision statement that we ever published on our website remains on the intro page of the "Emperor Norton Bridge" section of the site:
The vision of THE EMPEROR NORTON TRUST is to ensure that Emperor Norton's life and legacy is kept alive and relevant. We seek to bring together all those individuals, organizations and groups who share our vision — and to assist those in the movement to name the Emperor's bridge for him, by helping them forge an effective coalition that speaks with one joyful but determined voice so that their collective desire becomes reality.
That rings as true now as when we first posted it in early 2014.
The truth is: Emperor Norton was a herald of the very values of fairness, tolerance, self-determination and the common good that came to symbolize San Francisco and the Bay Area — but that the Capitol insurrectionists sought to trample.
Placing the Emperor's name on his bridge would stand as a memorial to those values.
If you live in California, please consider writing to your state Senator and state Assemblymember to respectfully invite them to recognize that adding "Emperor Norton Bridge" as an honorary name for the Bay Bridge is an idea whose time has come — and to urge them to pass a resolution to this effect in 2022.
And, if you live in San Francisco, urge your Supervisor to publicly endorse this proposal and to rally the city's state delegation to lead in bringing it to the legislature for action.
Thank you!
JOHN LUMEA
The Emperor Norton Trust