Offensive Monument Names May Be Changed In Prince George's

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — Prince George's County is debating whether to rename potentially-offensive monuments. A committee, called the Prince George's County Responsible Legacy Task Force, opened a survey asking residents what places might need a name switch.

The Prince George's County Council created the renaming commission in October of 2019. Residents have until March 31 to complete the task force's renaming questionnaire.

The form asks residents to identify inappropriate designations, suggest alternate names and list criteria that should prompt a switch. The final report is due by June 31.

As of now, the committee plans to consider name changes for landmarks linked with these views or anybody who supported them:

• Confederate sympathy
• Slavery
• Racism
• White supremacy
• Misogyny
• Economic disenfranchisement
• Discrimination against Indigenous people
• Discrimination against the LGBTQ community
• Other harmful beliefs

Activists point to Maryland Route 210, also known as Indian Head Highway, as one place that might need a new name. Two state legislators pitched a bill that would rename the Prince George's and Charles County road "President Barack Obama Highway."

The proposal, sponsored by Sens. Arthur Ellis (D-Charles County) and Obie Patterson (D-Prince George's County), is still stuck in committee. That means the Senate can't vote on it until committee members give it a thumbs up.

The bill will die if the Senate does not approve it by the end of Monday. This is crossover day, or the date that all legislation must be passed to the other chamber.

The push still has some momentum, however. The Piscataway Conoy Tribe, which is from Southern Maryland, started a petition seven months ago to rename Route 210 and the town of Indian Head in Charles County.

"Both are discriminatory to Native Americans in general, and we will no longer tolerate it," the appeal said. "Since these are our ancestral lands, we are suggesting Piscataway or Pascattoway Highway, similarly The Town of Indian should be changed to the Town of Pascattoway."

As of publication, the request has 2,999 signatures. Organizers hope it reaches 5,000 supporters.

"It's disgraceful that we even need to petition for this in this day and age," signer Crystal Tracy commented on the petition. "This should have been changed years ago."

To learn more about the Prince George's County Responsible Legacy Task Force, click here. The group's survey is posted at this link.

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