One voice stood for change in Hollywood
For those who still think one person can’t make a real difference, think again.
Better yet, look at whatwas accomplished by Benjamin Israel ofHollywood, who sawa situation thatwas bad and kept making his lone voice heard until therewas change.
Many South Florida officials with familiar names— people like Broward Sheriff Scott Israel and Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Broward Public DefenderHoward Finkelstein— joined the battle to change Confederate street names inHollywood.
The fightwas contentious but successful, as lastweekHollywood commissioners agreed to rename street signs honoring three CivilWar-era generals.
But before the political heavyweights got involved, Israel realized itwas no longer acceptable to have streets named after Confederate leaders. As Sun Sentinel reporter Susannah Bryan pointed outMonday, Israel’s voicewas heard at commission meetings for the past two years, keeping the issue alive when city leaders didn’t showmuch interest.
Israel, an African-American and Orthodox Jew, said hewas motivated by the words “tikkun olam,” aHebrew phrase meaning “repairing theworld.”
“Benjamin Israel reminds us that this is not an issue just for the African-American community,” said longtimeHollywood resident Barry Sacharow, who took up the similar cause 15 years ago andwas ignored. “It’s an issue for all of us.”
Indeed, cities around the country are removing Confederate statues and symbols of an ugly era in American history when slaverywas the order of the day.
We have evolved as a country to admit the Confederacy— and the fight for the right to own slaves— should not be glorified in anyway. The era will always be part of our history, but it is an era that still causes pain for many people. Racism is something to be rejected, and Benjamin Israel made sure itwould not be accepted inHollywood.
The three streets in questionwere named after Confederate commanders Robert E. Lee, John BellHood, andNathan Bedford Forrest. Forrest’s legacywas the worst, as hewas the first grand wizard of theKu Klux Klan. That’s hardly someone to be honored with a street.
“This guy Forrestwas a monster and yet you have a street here named after him,” Israel told Susannah Bryan. “And I ran into brick walls everywhere Iwent. The politicians had such a cavalier attitude.”
But Israel persisted, and under the current plan— a final vote will be Aug. 30— Lee Street will become Louisville, Hood Street will becomeMacon and Forrest will be Savannah.
Yes, altering the names will cause some minor problems for residents living on those streets, and the city isn’t likely to foot the bill for changes. But thankfully the commission acknowledged that attitudes and awareness are changing not only inHollywood, but all over the country.
Just look at what happened over the weekend in Charlottesville, Va., where about 50KKKmembers decided to march and spread their hate.
The First Amendment allows the Klan to do that, but theywere met by1,000 counter protesters whowanted theworld to knowthat such a display of bigotry wasn’t accepted in their city.
“I think all of us have an obligation to interrupt intolerance when it happens, and to be an ally whenwe see others being subjected to harassment and hate,” JonathanGreenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, toldUSA Today.
“We own it to ourselves to make surewe call upon our better angels whenwe see people thatwe know, or don’t know, who are being treated unfairly because of how they look or howthey pray orwho they love. Every one of us is capable of rising to that occasion.”
Thankfully, Benjamin Israel rose to that occasion inHollywood.
Editorials are the opinion of the Sun Sentinel Editorial Board and written by one of its members or a designee. The Editorial Board consists of Editorial Page Editor Rosemary O’Hara, AndrewAbramson, Elana Simms, Gary Stein and Editor-in-ChiefHoward Saltz.
Israel’s voice was heard at commission meetings for the past two years, keeping the issue alive when city leaders didn’t show much interest.