Residents of Los Angeles and beloved followers of slain rapper Nipsey Hussle are putting their focus into action to make sure that the rapper’s namesake remains front and center in his community.
Two petitions are circulating which seek to rename the intersection of Slauson Avenue and Crenshaw Boulevard after Hussle.
On Sunday, March 31, the beloved South Los Angeles rapper was fatally gunned down in front of his clothing store and the complex that he owned, which resides near the above mentioned intersection.
Hussle stood as an influential leader in his community who used the microphone to spread a message of awareness, but also used his platform to uplift his community. Hussle exemplified how to attain economic freedom through financial literacy, was also a proud supporter of Black businesses and also reached back to help the next generation. His death was a profound loss within his community, as well as on a global scale.
The first petition which was initiated by Project Islamic Hope on change.org, has over 29,000 signatures, just shy of its 35,000 signature goal.
“This is a call for LA Councilman Harris-Dawson to name the intersection of Crenshaw and Slauson Nipsey Hussle way. In honor of a community icon,” a description of the petition reads.
A second petition to name the stretch Nipsey Hu$$le Way was intimated by the owner of a social media page titled @NipseyHussleWay. To date, the petition has gathered over 600 signatures with a goal of 1,000.
“I started the petition because when prominent leaders die in other communities they are normally memorialized by having a street named after them,” said the owner of the second petition in an interview with MadameNoire, who wishes to remain anonymous.
“Nipsey Hu$$le was and still is a leader in that community and for Angelenos across the city. I live in Los Angeles and I drive through that area all of the time and I have no connection to anyone named Slauson or Crenshaw but I do know of Nipsey Hu$$le.
“I can’t say I speak for everyone but with the petition quickly getting signatures, we as a collective are voicing our opinion that we want to see Nipsey’s dream fulfilled.”
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