Hempstead renames street for ‘Black Lives Matter’ Movement

Dan Offner
(Photos courtesy of the Village of Hempstead)

Village of Hempstead Mayor Don Ryan joined the community and religious leaders on Thursday to officially rename Main Street in Hempstead as Black Lives Matter Way.

Elected officials gathered on Main Street in Hempstead for the street renaming ceremony.

This marks the first street on Long Island renamed after the “Black Lives Matter” movement, which began several years ago and has spread nationwide in the wake of recent killings of unarmed black men by police.

The Village of Hempstead has the largest African-American population on Long Island and has played host to many protests and rallies.

Joined by officials with the NAACP and the National Action Network, village officials unveiled the new street sign and announced plans to paint “Black Lives Matter” in yellow letters along Main Street as a show of unity and solidarity in the community.

The renamed Black Lives Matter Way sign was unveiled in the Village of Hempstead last week.

The Black Lives Matter movement began on social media in 2013 after the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin in February 2012.

Following the death of George Floyd, who was killed at the hands of Minneapolis law enforcement officials in May, communities across the nation have been dedicating murals and streets on behalf of the movement.

Share this Article