Hollywood residents, officials discuss renaming street with KKK connection

HOLLYWOOD, FLA. (WSVN) - Several Hollywood residents are demanding change for a road named after a high-ranking Ku Klux Klan member.

Thoughts of history and fairness were brought into question, but it also brought concerns of money and logistics when it comes to changing street names. The City of Hollywood held a public meeting Tuesday night so residents could speak their piece.

Hollywood resident Benjamin Israel voiced his opinion of the street signs at the meeting. “It’s not a matter of race; it’s a matter of morality,” he said.

“What about a Nazi?” said another local. “If the Jewish people see a Nazi sign on there, wouldn’t they get that removed with no problem?”

The city’s African-American Advisory Council voted Tuesday night to recommend that the city should change the name of Forrest, Lee and Hood street signs.

Gary Lucas has lived along Forrest Street in Hollywood for six years and said he wouldn’t mind if officials renamed the road. “Wouldn’t mind at all,” he said. “Wouldn’t bother me at all.”

His daughter Kalvina Lucas has similar feelings about the street. “We wouldn’t want to live on a street that’s named after a group of people that are racist and are discriminating,” she said.

Forrest Street was named decades ago for Confederate General and first grand wizard of the Ku Klux Klan, Nathan Bedford Forrest. He later tried to dissolve the group, but Hollywood residents still have a negative outlook of the name. “It’s disgusting to have a street name named after a Ku Klux Klan leader, and I think it’s about time it’s changed,” said Linda Anderson with the Liberia Civic Association.

Last year, vandals spray-painted over Forrest, Lee and Hood street signs, which were all named after Confederate generals. “There’s a fine line between history and basically offending folks,” said Hollywood resident John Lannert.

From the largely African American neighborhood of Liberia to portions of Forrest Street, many told 7News that they are ready for change. “You represent the Ku Klux Klan? Yeah, I would,” said one resident.

Another local, Jackie Pileckiai, said her children don’t understand the connotation behind the name yet. “I have three adopted black children, and it’s just — they think it means the trees in the forest,” she said. “There will be a time that I’ll have to tell them, and they don’t understand any of that.”

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“We identify ourselves by the names that we have and the names our parents give us, the names of our community, the names of our tribes,” said Samuel Prime with the African-American Advisory Council, “and these things gather images and emotions and cultural aspects for us.”

Israel said the street signs are un-American. “This is a problem that needs to be corrected,” he said. “It’s wrong. It’s an opposition to everything that America is supposed to stand for.”

The mayor of Hollywood said he would like to send out a letter to those who live on the street to see what residents want individually.

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