Jackson Free Press

The Jackson-Evers International Airport will now be called the Jackson Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport after Jackson City Council members voted to rename the airport this week.

Council members decided to rename the airport to make clear that it is named after slain civil rights activist Medgar Wiley Evers.

WAPT reports that the name change will cost the airport approximately $100,000 for new signage.

Previous Commentsshow

The $100,000 for signage... does that include all branding (badges, letterheads, business cards, forms, etc.) or, literally, just signs?

vince

Oct 20 2011

I am sorry, but this does not appear to be a wise use of tax money. The airport is already named for him. Spending $100,000 for new signage seems foolhardy when the money could probably be invested elsewhere in the airport for improvements. If the airport were still named for Thompson, I would have more sympathy for the idea of spending money to change it. The name has been changed and the change in nomenclature, while possibly significant to many, is not of such grave importance that it is immediately necessary.

tombarnes

Oct 20 2011

I think this is a good thing. I just wish they had gotten it right the first time.

Tre

Oct 20 2011

Agreed. They compromised to please the bigot contingent the first time; it should have been this all along. I applaud it. Better late than never. (I assume y'all remember that horrible prize-winning column against naming the airport after Evers in the Northside Sun. Here's a column I wrote about it then.) I also recall that prominent African Americans used that prize-winning column to keep Mr. Emmerich off the airport board. You can see why.

DonnaLadd

Oct 20 2011

Far be it from me to be on the side of bigotry. Too bad they didn't get the full name in the first time.

tombarnes

Oct 20 2011

For it to be a waste of money has nothing to do with bigotry. It was already named for him,to add Megar Wiley is a waste of money for taxpayers of Jackson. Why didn't they add Andrew too? $100,000 would fill alot of pot holes or fix water pipes. Lot more important than what the name of the airport is. The city of Jackson can waste more money of stuff like this than any city I have ever known of. Renaming streets,buildings, doing worthless studies,anybody with half a brain cell already knows they outcome of before hand.

BubbaT

Oct 20 2011

When was the last time you heard someone say "I'm flying in to Ronald Reagan National in D.C." or "I have a layover at Moss Lee Love in Dallas"?

bill_jackson

Oct 20 2011

CAN YOU IMAGINE LANDING IN AN AIRPORT 'NOT' NAMED AFTER A CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER? WOULD NOT MAKE SENSE!!!

jbreland

Oct 21 2011

"For it to be a waste of money has nothing to do with bigotry." I guess you are (incorrectly) referring to this comment: "They compromised to please the bigot contingent the first time..." I remember when this happened like five or six years ago and even then I was thinking, 'yeah,they barely named it after him.' His name is Medgar Wiley Evers. Not "Jackson Evers" or even "Jackson Medgar Wiley Evers." The airport in Washington is the "Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport," and in my opinion,the proper way to name our airport should be the "Medgar Wiley Evers Jackson International Airport," but I guess they were close enough. Maybe we can change it again in a few years to finally get it right. There is no doubt they are compromising to please the bigot contingent. Even now. By putting "Jackson" first, they can still just call it the "Jackson Airport" for short... just like folks call the DC airport the "Ronald Reagan Airport."

Tre

Oct 23 2011

Tre- You guessed wrong, was not referring to Donna's comment. It doesn't matter who the airport is named for or what they are changing it to, spending $100,000 to rename it(when it's already named for Evers)is a waste of tax money,plain and simple. Like I said before there are alot more important things to spend $100,000 dollars on.

BubbaT

Oct 24 2011

"...there are alot more important things to spend $100,000 dollars on." Like elections for voter id and 'personhood' amendments, and the cost that will follow when people fight them? Hell, it costs ten times that much to put traffic signals up at an intersection.

Tre

Oct 25 2011

Well the name of the airport surfaces again. The city council has yet again proven that they do not have the ability to make educated decisions for the citizens in this city! If those of you supporting this truly wanted to honor his name, how about using tax dollars to name and support something like the Stewpot. I'm sure that wouldn't get the media attention that some of you are seeking though!

js1976

Oct 31 2011