President Street Subway Station Gets New Name

by CrownHeights.info

It’s now called the President Street-Medger Evers College Station.

The subway stop on President Street and and Nostrand Ave in Crown Heights got a new name Thursday afternoon, in an ceremony that shut down streets at the intersection.

The renaming of both the President and Franklin Street Subway stations was initially announced by New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo in June, with the new names in honor of Medgar Evers College.

“The new stations, Franklin Avenue-Medgar Evers College and President Street-Medgar Evers College, will honor the historic contributions of the historically black CUNY college to the Brooklyn communities it serves and stand as a living tribute to Medgar Evers, the civil rights icon whose name the college proudly carries,” the governor wrote.

The renaming of the stations is pursuant to legislation put forth by local Assemblymember Diana Richardson and Senator Zellnor Myrie. The project is being funded by a $250,000 legislative grant made available by Assemblywoman Richardson.

“I am extremely proud and honored as both an alumnus of Medgar Evers College and a lifelong resident of the Crown Heights community to have helped author the legislation that renamed these subway stops in honor of the great civil rights leader, Medgar Evers,” said Assemblymember Diana Richardson.

The event featured speeches from Albany politicians, including Shirley Chisholm and New York State Senator Zellnor Myrie

In an earlier press release, Myrie wrote that “Never has the history and legacy of Medgar Evers felt more alive than during this movement for justice and never has there been a better time to honor his legacy.”

The ceremony was followed by an open air event, where gifts were given out to the attendees.