GA Lawmakers Push To Rename Lester Maddox Bridge For Hank Aaron

ATLANTA, GA — Some Georgia lawmakers said they will pitch renaming a bridge on southbound Interstate 75 near Truist Park for Hank Aaron, an Atlanta sports icon, who died at age 86 last Friday.

Backers of the measure said it could be difficult to rename the bridge, according to 11Alive, which is currently named after former Gov. Lester Maddox — a known segregationist — and his wife Virginia. Lester Maddox was Georgia's governor 50 years ago.

Aaron subtly fought Jim Crow segregation laws, while Maddox chased Black people away from the restaurant he owned near Georgia Tech, according to 11Alive. The bridge sign displaying Maddox's name crosses the Chattahoochee River on I-75 between Fulton and Cobb counties, a well-traveled area of the interstate. Maddox was a Cobb resident when he died in June 2003, 11Alive reported.

Admirers of Aaron want to rename the bridge, which is now marked with Black Lives Matter graffiti, to honor the Hall of Fame baseball player following his death, including state Reps. Teri Anulewicz and Erick Allen, both Democratic representatives for Smyrna.

The Maddox bridge connects Atlanta with Truist Park, which is home to the Atlanta Braves — Aaron's team for 21 of his 23 seasons in Major League Baseball.

Read more on 11Alive's website.