CAIRO STREET NAMED FOR SLAIN CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER

CAIRO, Ill. -- A 21-block section of Walnut Street will be renamed in honor of slain civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

"The new street will become official on April 4, 1994," said Cairo Mayor James Wilson. "This will give the city and residents living along the street ample time to prepare for the new street name."

The action renaming the street came late last month, and was approved by a unanimous vote of the Cairo City Council.

"One person didn't vote on the measure," said Wilson. "But everyone who did vote favored the change."

"Walnut Street, from its intersection with 25th Street south to its ending at 4th Street in the city, will be named after King, who was shot to death on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tenn.," said Wilson.

In addition to the street, a triangular-shaped park near Cairo Junior High School in the 2400 block will be dedicated as Martin Luther King Park.

King was shot at the Lorraine Motel, where he was staying while in Memphis to organize a sanitation workers' strike. James Earl Ray is serving a 99-year prison sentence for the killing.

A National Civil Rights Museum has been built at the site of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis.

"This was a needed thing," said Wilson. "Many cities throughout the nation have a Martin Luther King Street, and we have a minority population here."

The city is in the process of installing new street signs along Walnut Street, said Wilson.

"The year's leeway gives us plenty of time to have the signs made up and installed," he said. "It also gives residents ample time to make address changes."

Four blocks of Walnut Street will be preserved.

"We wanted to keep part of it," said Wilson. "It is a historic street. We'll keep the block from 15th to where Walnut ends at St. Mary's Park."

Wilson said opposition to changing the street name was limited.

"We had a few complaints, but that's to be expected any time you change something that has been around a long time," he said. "Nobody objected to honoring King, but there are people who have lived on Walnut Street for more than 75 years."