South Los Angeles, CA – A concert and ceremony On Derby Day in South LA there was a big concert along with huge ceremony to unveil Obama Boulevard.
The street replaced Rodeo Road, a 3 ½-mile street that runs across the city’s historic black neighborhood. It also intersects with Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and further establishes a “presidential row”.
“As we drive through this city and we see past presidents on Adams, on Washington, on Jefferson and now we’ll have one that was in our lifetime, who was a president for everybody: Barack Hussein Obama,” Mayor of Los Angeles Eric Garcetti said.
With the streets blocked people filled King and Rodeo Rd for fun and great memories of a day that will go down in history.
Community partners, venders, Black Greek Letter Organizations also lined the street for the community.
City Council President Herb Wesson said in a statement. Rodeo Road was symbolically important: The road is home to Rancho Cienega Sports Complex, where Obama held a campaign rally when he was running for president in 2007.
“He drove down it. He and I walked on it. He then gave a speech asking 20,000 people for their vote (and) became president — the first African American in history,” he said. “So I just think there’s a lot of history here, and we’re so excited about naming the street after him.” (Barack Obama speaking with Wesson)
Now a dream will always have hope with the living soul of this intersection. Dr. King had a dream, while Obama had hope.
