The Washington County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to enter a resolution in support of the naming of the U.S. Courthouse and Federal Building in honor of Fannie Lou Hamer.
Congressman Bennie Thompson solicited support from the WCBS as well as the Greenville City Council and other local entities to bestow Hamer’s namesake upon the new federal courthouse.
“Fannie Lou Hamer is a native of the Mississippi Delta who spent the majority of her adult life fighting for justice and equality for her people in the Delta. I can’t think of a better person to name the new Federal Courthouse in honor of,” Thompson said.
Attorney Willie Griffin noted only Congress can name the courthouse and Thompson’s intent is to present the resolution requests as soon as possible to ensure it is done during Congress’ ongoing session.
“This past October, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) gave us the go-ahead to start the construction documents. There’s a contractor already on board and there’s an April start date for construction so it’s coming fast,” architect Roy Decker said in November.
Decker’s vision and intent is for the new federal courthouse to be a legacy project for the future of Greenville.
He explained in-depth about how a project such as the construction of the federal courthouse emerges and how its meaning will be tied to the community.
“Meaning is a profoundly important part of this project to get right, so we’re in pursuit of meaning, not trying to make meaning. The African American experience is important here and the idea of what justice means to everybody, equal justice under the law, is not always presented equally through court buildings around the country,” Decker highlighted. “So, it was important to us, the judges and the court and GSA to find a voice for this building that acknowledges the importance of a federal court building in our country as a part of all federal courthouses around the country, but also acknowledges that access to justice is a basic right as fundamental to everyone no matter who you are.”
Befittingly, the resolution states, “Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Washington County Board of Supervisors that in an effort to preserve her lasting legacy and to honor her tireless commitment to the cause of humankind, it is both fitting and proper to name the new U.S. Courthouse and Federal Building, in honor of Fannie Lou Hamer.”
“It is my honor and privilege to make this motion to adopt this resolution to name the federal building after Mrs. Fannie Lou Hamer,” District 4 Supervisor Mala Brooks said.
The motion was seconded by supervisor Tommy Benson and carried unanimously.
