Harden St. Designated as MLK Jr. Blvd.

Five years in the making, a busy Columbia intersection in the Five Points area gets another name. Hundreds of people converged Monday on Harden and Greene streets for the historic unveiling of the honorary street designation of Harden Street as the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. “For generations to come there will be a visible sign of all Dr. King represented,” said Columbia City Councilwoman, Belinda Gergel. King’s tireless message of peace and racial equality are some of the reasons Columbia city leaders say they fought to have the marker erected. Ironically, they voted to install the sign only if it would be done without tax payer dollars. Private donors stepped in. King’s fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha Incorporated, footed $1,200 more than $2,000 bill. “I thought the least could be done for us in this tight economic time was for the brothers of this chapter to donate monies out of their own pocket to fund this important marker,” said fraternity president Derwin Brannon. They say it’s an important marker, representing the ideals of an important leader. Monique Williams reports. To see the complete story, click on the Video Player icon under the News section.