Unity group members say they have not persuaded Zephyrhills council members to keep the King street name.
By MOLLY MOORHEAD
Published May 5, 2004
ZEPHYRHILLS - After meeting privately Tuesday with some city leaders, people fighting for the name of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue seemed to sense they are running out of time and options.
In the days leading up to Monday's council meeting, during which the issue could be decided, they plan to keep up their daily protests at City Hall, talk to other residents about compromising and prepare statements for the meeting.
"Ultimately, we'd like the name Martin Luther King Jr. (Avenue), but we're willing to talk about it and bring a peaceful solution," said Elaine Jones, a protester and member of the Zephyrhills Unity Initiative.
Jones was among a handful of people who met with council members Clyde Bracknell and Cathi Compton, both of whom voted April 26 to restore the Sixth Avenue designation. The group talked with each council member separately so as not to violate the Sunshine Law.
Neither gave any indication the vote would go differently, the group said.
So some people, such as protester Blanche Benford, said she would accept leaving up commemorative signs for King, even though the official street name would be Sixth Avenue.
"Right now, we're shortstopped," Benford said.
Other people were less willing to give in.
Marvin Knight, a Tampa resident who grew up in Zephyrhills, said commemorative signs are no way to honor King.
"That's a lot like having nothing at all," Knight said.
Mark Young, another protester, plans to read a statement from the Zephyrhills Unity Initiative, expressing disappointment in the council's decision to revoke the honor for the slain civil rights leader. He also plans to ask the council to delay its final vote.
But that seems an unlikely outcome, and the group wants to take steps that will give it leverage.
As part of their request for the commemorative signs, protesters will seek a commitment from council members to honor King with a future city project, such as the planned interactive water park.
Police Chief Russell Barnes, a member of the unity group, said the compromise is like a two-steps-forward-one-step-back approach.
"We took two steps forward. We got the name changed originally," he said.
