U.S. Representative Shri Thanedar, a Detroit Democrat, and Democratic U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow of Lansing introduced bills in their respected legislative houses to name the same federal building for two different Detroit icons in the Civil Rights Movement, the Detroit News reported last night.
Thanedar wants to name the building, located at 925 Michigan Avenue, after the late U.S. Representative John Conyers, who was the longest-serving Black congressperson in U.S. history and, during his tenure, co-founded the Congressional Black Caucus and fought for such issues as reparations, voting rights and single-payer healthcare. Conyers’ tenure came to an end in 2017 due to sexual harassment allegations.
Stabenow wants the same building to be named after Rosa Parks, whose strategic resistance in not giving up her seat to a White passenger kicked off what is known as the modern Civil Rights Movement. Parks is also becoming known for her anti-rape advocacy for Black women. Specifically, Stabenow wants to transfer Parks’ name from the current federal building on 333 Mount Elliott Street, which the federal government is planning to sell due to it not being fully used, to the Michigan Avenue building.
Parks worked for Conyers as a part of his election team and as his aide from 1964 until her retirement in 1988.
Thanedar and Stabenow did not consult each other about their efforts to name the Michigan Avenue building.
