The Tallahassee City Commission unanimously voted to rename a stretch of West Carolina Street in honor of civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson, a recognition city officials said reflects Jackson’s longstanding ties to the community and his work promoting voting access and equality.
Street runs between historic blocks
The 5-0 vote renames the portion of West Carolina Street from North Adams to South Copeland. Mayor John Dailey said the designation will serve as a permanent reminder of Jackson’s local and national impact, and Commissioner Dianne Williams-Cox emphasized the symbolic resonance of the new name where it crosses Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
Jackson’s relationship with Tallahassee stretches back decades, officials and clergy noted at an event held at Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, a congregation Jackson visited often. The church hosted community members who gathered to celebrate Jackson’s work on civil rights, equality and voter participation.
“He was one of the first people I heard to say, ‘I am somebody.’ I am somebody. He didn’t whisper it. He was confident in it,”
Those words were attributed to City Commissioner Dianne Williams-Cox during the gathering, illustrating how the phrase Jackson popularized resonated with local residents. The Rev. R.B. Holmes of Bethel pointed to Jackson’s and other leaders’ roles in shaping the city’s civic life: “Reverend Jesse Jackson stood many, many, many, many times here Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stood here... And because they stood here, we’re here,” he said.
Local context and what changes
The renaming affects a centrally located block that crosses key corridors of the city and places Jackson’s name in direct intersection with the city’s existing memorial to Dr. King. City officials framed the move as both a recognition of historical ties and a civic lesson for new generations.
- Designation covers West Carolina Street from North Adams to South Copeland.
- Passed by a 5-0 vote of the Tallahassee City Commission.
- Event marking the renaming was held at Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, where Jackson frequently spoke.
The city noted Jackson’s participation in local voter-engagement efforts, including a 2016 “Souls to the Polls” walk in Tallahassee aimed at encouraging voter participation. Officials said the renaming is intended to remind residents of the work done to expand access to the ballot box and to inspire continued civic engagement.
| Former name | New designation | Limits |
|---|---|---|
| West Carolina Street | Rev. Jesse Jackson Street | North Adams to South Copeland |
City leaders emphasized the decision’s local significance. Mayor Dailey said the naming will be a reminder of Jackson’s influence “not only internationally, not only nationally, not only in the state of Florida, but right here in Tallahassee, right here in our community.”
What residents may expect
Officials did not outline changes to addresses or timelines for new signage at the event, but the vote formalizes the city’s intent to install street signs carrying Jackson’s name. For residents and visitors, the intersection of Rev. Jesse Jackson Street and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard creates a deliberate civic pairing that ties local geography to the histories of civil rights leaders who visited and spoke in Tallahassee.
For many at Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, the street naming was both recognition and a call to continue work on the causes those leaders championed. City commissioners and church leaders framed the moment as a community affirmation of identity, memory and ongoing civic responsibility.
